Statues - Hither & Thither

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Heldenplatz (1.)

Erzherzog Karl von Österreich-Teschen

Archduke Charles of Austria, Duke of Teschen

(Firenze/Florence 1771 - Wien 1847)
Austrian field-marshal, defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Aspern, 1809
(Wikipedia)

Anton Dominik Fernkorn & Eduard van der Nüll
1860

Wien / Erzherzog Karl von Österreich-Teschen

Description

Bronze equestrian statue of Archduke Karl with a flag in his hand on a prancing horse, standing over French insignia. The statue stands on a richly decorated bronze base with shields and banderoles carrying the names and dates of battles.
The whole on a rectangular stone pedestal with chamfered corners. On the front face the coat of arms of the Archduke, on the other faces text tablets. On each chamfer a double headed eagle with the arms of emperor, holding laurel wreath with the monogram of Franz Joseph I

Inscription(s)

Kaiser
Franz Joseph I
dem Erzherzoge
Carl
von Oesterreich.
1859.

Dem
heldenmüthigen
Führer
der
Heere österreichs

Dem
beharrlichen
Kämpfer
für
Deutschlands Ehre

Battles, starting front right, anticlockwise:

(click on the photo for an enlargement in a separate window.)

Aldenhoven 1. März 1793
Tongren 4 März 1793
Tirlemont 16 März 1793
Neerwinden 18 März 1793
Loewen 22 März 1793
Cateau 26 April 1794
Priches 29 April 1794
Wetzlar 15 Juni 1796
Teiningen 22 Aug 1796
Neumarkt 22 Aug 1796
Amberg 24 Aug 1796
Würzburg 3 Sept. 1796
Limburg 26 Sept 1796
Emendingen 19 Octob. 1796
Schlingen 25 Octob. 1796
Kehl 22 Nov. 1797
Ostrach 21 März 1799
Stockach 26 März 1799
Bürch 4. Juni 1799
Wannheim 18 Sept. 1799
Caldiero 31 Octbr. 1805
Aspern 22 Mai 1809
Wagram 6 Juli 1809
Znaim 11 Juli 1809

Annotation

The statue is sculpted by Fernkorn, the model was a painting by Johann Peter Krafft of 1809, and probably the sculptor was inspired by the equestrian statue of William the Conqueror in Falaise from 1851.

The heavy statue rest only on the two hooves and the back legs, which is a sculptural masterpiece, while the later counterpart, the equestrian statue of Prince Eugene, rests also on the horse's tail.

The design of the socle is by Van der Nüll.

The unveiling was planned for 1859, the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Aspern. Because of the unsuccessful campaign in Italy, unveiled was delayed to 21 May 1860.

Archduke Charles at the battle of Aspern, Johann Peter Krafft, 1809

Sculptors

Anton Dominik Ritter von Fernkorn (Erfurt 1830 - Wien 1878), Austrian sculptor and bronze founder (Wikipedia).
Eduard van der Nüll (Wien 1812 - Wien 1868), Austrian architect (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Kunst und Kultur Wien, Denkmäler im Bereich der Wiener Ringstraße.
Stadt Wien, Kulturgut.
Kees van Tilburg, From Marcus Aurelius to Kim Jong-il: The story of equestrian statues throughout the ages (Amstelveen, 2017). – see also the Equestrian statue website.

Locatie (N 48°12'24" - E 16°21'47") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: atwi117; Photograph: 11 September 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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