Mariensäule am Hof, Maria column in Innere Stadt, Austria
Mariensäule am Hof is a bronze monument featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary on a Corinthian column with four cherubs at its base. The work rises approximately 22 meters above Am Hof square in Vienna's historic center.
Emperor Leopold I commissioned a bronze column in 1664 to replace an earlier sandstone version from 1646. The metal for this replacement came from captured cannons.
The four putti at the base embody challenges of the Baroque era: plague, war, hunger, and religious strife. They reflect how people expressed their concerns and devotions through this monument.
The monument stands on a central square and is easily accessible on foot and visible from multiple angles. Information plaques at the site explain details about the work and its background.
The statue was entirely gilded until 1730, when metalwork modifications gave it the bronze appearance seen today. This change shaped the monument's look for centuries to come.
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