The Augustinian Church is closely linked to the history of the city of Vienna and the imperial family. From 1634 to 1918, it served as the Imperial and Royal Court Parish Church, where many members of the imperial family were married and regularly attended services.
View from Helmut Zilk Platz towards Augustinerstrasse. The Augustinian monastery begins to the left of the Albertina. On the right is the Lobkowitz Palace.
In the 17th century, the medieval furnishings of the Augustinian Church were replaced by elaborate Baroque décor. Eighteen new altars were erected, most of which were accompanied by chapels. They all fell victim to the Regothisation movement at the end of the 18th century.
In 1690, the church entrances were moved to face the street, and in 1719 the new sacristy was fitted out. In 1783, the Augustinian Church became the parish church. It acquired its present appearance under Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg, who restored the Baroque interior to a Gothic style (1784/1785). He also commissioned a new high altar.
The pews in the eastern bays of the nave, with their richly ornamented side panels and biblical scenes on the ends, were crafted around 1730 by Johann Baptist Straub. The pews with inlaid side panels, each bearing the emblem of Emperor Charles VI, originate from the Chamber Chapel (or St Joseph’s Chapel) in the Vienna Hofburg – which was altered under Emperor Joseph I and under Maria Theresa – as well as from the former St James’s Monastery.
In the centre of the altar, Christ is depicted as the Ruler of the World, surrounded by numerous figures of angels. The patron saints of Emperor Franz Josef are also depicted.
The wedding of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria (Sisi) took place here at the Augustinerkirche in Vienna on 24 April 1854. Sisi, who was 16 at the time, and the 24-year-old Emperor were married by 70 bishops. However, the five-day celebrations were more in keeping with strict court protocol than with a fairy-tale film.
Canova Monument
On the right-hand side stands Antonio Canova’s monumental masterpiece: the funerary monument to Archduchess Marie Christine, daughter of Maria Theresa and wife of Albert of Saxony-Teschen.
Rising above a flight of steps is the funerary pyramid with an illusionistic funerary gate leading into the realm of the dead. Approaching it is the funeral procession, featuring the personifications of Virtue (carrying an urn) and Charity (helping an elderly man to walk). On the steps rests the lion, a symbol of power; on the wall pyramid above the gate, a genius holds the portrait medallion of the Archduchess. Built between 1798 and 1805, the tomb is regarded as a masterpiece of classical funerary art.
Organ gallery
It was here that Franz Schubert conducted his Mass in F major and Anton Bruckner premiered his Mass in F sharp minor.
This oil painting by Johann Franz Greippel is located on the left-hand side of the chancel. It dates from 1784 and depicts the body of Saint Nepomuk.
