- CountryAustria
- Town:Vienna
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Year of creation:1806
- Rider(s):Joseph ll
(1741 – 1790), the oldest son and successor of Franz I, was a proponent of enlightened absolutism. Together with Catherine II of Russia and Frederick II of Prussia, he can be ranked as one of the great monarchs of the Enlightenment. However, his commitment to modernizing reforms met significant opposition, mainly from the nobility, which ultimately resulted in the failure to implement them fully.
- Sculptor(s):Zauner, Franz Anton
(1746/48 – 1822) was an Austrian sculptor who worked in the Neoclassical style. His equestrian statue of Joseph II won him a knighthood from Kaiser Franz I. It later became the subject of a poem by Anastasius Grün.
From design until completion, the production of his equestrian statue in the Josephsplatz took 12 years.
