Hochaltar des Stephansdoms, Early Baroque altar in St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Austria

The High Altar of St. Stephen's Cathedral is an early Baroque altar made from Sterzing marble, standing at the end of the choir in the heart of Vienna's cathedral. It takes the form of a house portal and features carved reliefs depicting the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the patron of the church.

Brothers Johann Jacob and Tobias Pock made the altar between 1641 and 1647, commissioned by Prince-Bishop Philipp Friedrich Graf Breuner. It was created during a period of Catholic renewal in Vienna, when the church and the Habsburg court worked closely together.

The altar displays nine marble figures, among them saints Leopold, Florian, Sebastian, and Rochus, who are deeply tied to the faith of this region. Visitors who know the local religious tradition will recognize each figure by their attributes carved into the stone.

The altar is visible from the nave, but walking toward the choir gives a much clearer view of the carved reliefs. Visiting on a weekday morning tends to be quieter, making it easier to spend time in front of the work.

The altar's nine figures, capitals and cartouches are carved from Sterzing marble, which Pock chose himself in a Tyrolean quarry in 1641 and entrusted to the mason Martin Zwölfer. The delivery fell behind, and part of it was still outstanding in 1665. The stone has since taken on a yellowish tone, visible on the altar today.