{"id":52459,"date":"2022-10-27T05:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T04:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=52459"},"modified":"2025-10-08T10:06:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T09:06:39","slug":"monument-emperor-joseph-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/monument-emperor-joseph-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Monument to Emperor Joseph II"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosefsmall.jpg\" alt=\"Equestrian statue of Joseph II\" class=\"wp-image-52446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosefsmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosefsmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Habsburgs were not averse to drawing on Roman imagery to enhance their imperial image. One such example is the equestrian statue of Emperor Joseph II in Vienna&#8217;s centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mimics the Roman statue of Marcus Aurelius<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unveiled in 1807<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crafted by Franz Anton Zauner for Emperor Franz II\/I<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Numerous reliefs commemorate significant achievements and moments in Joseph&#8217;s life<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-walking-tours-l205287\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_WalkingTours\" rel=\"sponsored\">historical walking tour<\/a>* for your visit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/emperor-franz-monument\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"52378\">Monument to Emperor Franz II\/I<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/habsburgs\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"12848\">Introduction to the Habsburgs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One man and his horse<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef1.jpg\" alt=\"Joseph II monument\" class=\"wp-image-52443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The monument with the National Library and Hofburg Redoutens\u00e4le behind)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drop into Rome&#8217;s Museo del Palazzo dei Conservatori and you&#8217;ll spot a bronze masterpiece constructed some 2000 years ago: the huge statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius atop his horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The classical sculpture served as inspiration for a similar statue on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/josefsplatz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30648\">Josefsplatz square<\/a> at the edge of Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/hofburg\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2708\">Hofburg palace complex<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef2.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of bronze emperor and horse\" class=\"wp-image-52444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef2-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Marcus Aurelius pose)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Viennese statue sees Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790) and his horse adopting the posture of their spiritual Roman predecessors. It forms the centrepiece of a giant monument to one of the more progressive Habsburg monarchs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emperor Franz II\/I (Joseph&#8217;s nephew) commissioned the work from sculptor Franz Anton Zauner. The unveiling took place in 1807.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Incidentally, Zauner also contributed the caryatids over the road at the entrance to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/palais-pallavicini\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"31243\">Palais Pallavicini<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/josephmonument1808.jpg\" alt=\"Painting of Josefsplatz in 1808\" class=\"wp-image-64568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/josephmonument1808.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/josephmonument1808-300x195.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The square in front of the Imperial court library with the statue of Joseph II, published in 1808 by Artaria &amp; Co. Verlag using artwork by Carl Sch\u00fctz; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 6425; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The plinth below the horse features two reliefs symbolising Joseph&#8217;s role in promoting trade and agriculture. The remaining two sides bear Latin inscriptions: one honours Joseph as a ruler who worked in the interests of his people, the other honours Franz as the monument&#8217;s initiator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Numerous reliefs in medallion form also cover the surrounding columns. These highlight, for example, significant moments in Joseph&#8217;s life, such as his birth and marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef4.jpg\" alt=\"Relief highlighting birth of Joseph II\" class=\"wp-image-52457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef4.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef4-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Medallion commemorating Joseph&#8217;s birth in 1741)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other reliefs also reflect the achievements of Joseph&#8217;s reign, such as his founding of the Josephinian Military Academy of Surgery (opened in 1785) or the Patent of Toleration in support of religious freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef5.jpg\" alt=\"Relief highlighting the opening of the Josephinian Military Academy of Surgery\" class=\"wp-image-52458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef5.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/monumentjosef5-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Medallion commemorating the opening of the surgical academy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The makers had a fair few achievements to choose from, as Joseph proved a remarkably enlightened leader (for the times).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite looking down on over 200 years of Austrian history, however, the monument&#8217;s moment of greatest fame perhaps came through Hollywood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the acclaimed movie <em>The Third Man<\/em>, the steps facing the road proved the alleged location of Harry Lime&#8217;s death following a road accident.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/monumentjosefsplatz.jpg\" alt=\"Harry Lime &quot;died&quot; here in The Third Man\" class=\"wp-image-48319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/monumentjosefsplatz.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/monumentjosefsplatz-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The last thing Harry Lime saw)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The square, Palais Pallavicini and the monument itself feature in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/songsfilms\/third-man-locations\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"31222\">various scenes<\/a> from the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite its age, Joseph&#8217;s statue is not even close to being the most historical sight on the square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You have, for example, the entrance to the baroque <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/prunksaal\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2750\">state hall<\/a> of the National Library on one side, as well as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/augustinerkirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"17061\">Augustinerkirche<\/a> church, which dates back to the 1300s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the monument<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow the travel tips at the bottom of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/josefsplatz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30648\">Josefsplatz article<\/a>. You&#8217;ll spot the monument easily once there and pass it if you follow my suggested <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/walking-tour\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50322\">walking tour route<\/a> through the city centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Josefsplatz, 1010 Vienna<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1asmHlbVpicbQLt1557vf6l4l0zQ\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Habsburgs were not averse to drawing on Roman imagery to enhance their imperial image. One such example is the equestrian statue of Emperor Joseph II in Vienna&#8217;s centre. One man and his horse (The monument with the National Library and Hofburg Redoutens\u00e4le behind) Drop into Rome&#8217;s Museo del Palazzo dei Conservatori and you&#8217;ll spot [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":52446,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-52459","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-winter-palace","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52459"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86337,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52459\/revisions\/86337"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}