The monument to Maria Theresa

A monument to a ruler in keeping with the time

The monument to Maria Theresa, erected in 1888, is one of the most prominentnt monuments to a ruler in the historicist style. It has a base area of 623m² and is just under 20m in height. The bronze statue boasts a total weight of 44 tonnes and is created over 13 years by Caspar von Zumbusch. The architectural elements are designed by Carl von Hasenauer.

Alfred von Arneth, Director of the Austrian State Archives at the time, is responsible for the figure scheme. The monarch, enthroned at the top, is holding a sceptre and the Pragmatic Sanction. The latter is the state constitutional decree enabling her coronation and, at the same time, a symbol of the Habsburgs’ “indivisible and inextricable” claim to power. Seated just below the throne are four female figures – allegories to the cardinal virtues of justice, fortitude, temperance and prudence.

At the foot of the monument are the Empress’ counsellors. The four most important ones - Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz, Friedrich Wilhelm von Haugwitz, Joseph Wenzel von Lichtenstein and Gerard van Swieten - are immortalised in stone on either side of the monument. A further 16 personalities are depicted in the lunettes, including Johann Christoph von Bartenstein and Andreas Hadik as well as Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as a child. The base bears four equestrian statues of field commanders: Gideon Ernst von Loudon, Leopold von Daun, Ludwig Andreas von Khevenhüller and Otto Ferdinand von Abensberg-Traun.

The monument is unveiled on the Empress’ 171st birthday on May 13th, 1888 with a grand ceremony. Empress Elisabeth is present and composes a critical poem about it.

The monument is thoroughly renovated between 2008 and 2013.