Home | Oesterreich, Albrecht von
- CountryAustria
- Town:Vienna
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Year of creation:1899
- Rider(s):Oesterreich, Albrecht von
(1817-1895) was the eldest son of Archduke Karl von Österreich-Teschen.
- Sculptor(s):Zumbusch, Kaspar von
(1830 –1915) was a German sculptor, who became a pre-eminent sculptor of neo-Baroque monuments in Vienna.
He went at the age of eighteen to study in Munich. At first unsuccessfully at the Academy and then Polytechische Schule under Johann Halbig. He continued his studies in Rome. He won the competition in 1866 for a monument to Maximilian II of Bavaria in Munich, that was unveiled in 1875. In 1873 he was called to Vienna as professor in the academy, a post he held until 1901. His most important works are a statue of Count Rumford, Munich; and the monuments to Prince August of Prussia (Bellevue Park, Berlin), Beethoven (1873-1880, Vienna), Maria Theresa (1887, Vienna), and to Emperor William I (1896, Wittekindsberg, Westphalia). Also, in Vienna are his monuments to Count Radetzky (1891) and to Archduke Albrecht (1898-1899).
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The equestrian statue of Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf von Österreich-Teschen had to be produced in the unusually short time of two years, as it needed to be unveiled on the occasion of the celebration of the 50-year reign of Emperor Franz Joseph. Rising socialism threatened the plans with a strike, as there had to be day and night shift working. However, in the end it was not socialism but anarchism that caused a delay. The assassination in 1898 of Empress Elisabeth (better known as Sisi) was the reason to postpone the unveiling of the statue for a year.
