The Schönbrunn Palace Chapel dates back to the beginning of the eighteenth century and was built by the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach.
The chapel still has the original shape and architectural design but the main entrance to the chapel was transferred from the north to the west side.
The original decorations of the chapel were relatively simple.
The chapel was originally dedicated to Mary Magdalene and in 1745 it was re-dedicated to the Marriage of the Virgin Mary.
In the 1740s, the original residence which had served as a hunting lodge was adapted to an Imperial palace. The Imperial family was extremely religious and participated at services in the palace chapel which were regarded an important part of daily life in the court.
In 1743, Maria Theresa commissioned Nikolaus Pacassi to restore the chapel. Maria Theresa also commissioned well known baroque artists with the restoration work of the chapel.
The marble high altar was most probably designed by Nikolaus Pacassi himself and is crowned by a gilded sculpture of the Holy Trinity by Franz Kohl who was a pupil of Georg Raphael Donner.
The well known artist Paul Troger painted the altar painting which shows the marriage of Mary.
The altar with angels on either side is dominated by a large marble tabernacle in the form of a dome and a golden tabernacle-door which is decorated with a relief of the Virgin Mary mourning over the dead body of Christ.
The two altars situated on each side of the chapel are by the Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Pittoni.
1. The first painting shows the Virgin Mary being taught religion by her parents Anna and Joachim.
2. The painting on the other side of the chapel shows Saint John of Nepomuk.
The two niches are dominated by gilded lead statues by Franz Kohl.
1. The suffering Madonna
2. John the Baptist
The ceiling fresco is by Daniel Gran a baroque artist and shows Mary Magdalene surrounded by the virtues of faith, hope and charity.
The consecration of the palace chapel took place on 29th April 1745.
Maria Theresa and her family and members of the Imperial court attended the ceremony which is said to have lasted for four hours.
The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Vienna, Count Sigismund Kollonitsch.
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Schönbrunn Palace Chapel
The Old Organ dated 1897
Schönbrunn Palace Chapel
The New Organ dated 1984
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1
2
The two altars situated on each side of the chapel are by the Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Pittoni.
1. The first painting shows the Virgin Mary being taught religion by her parents Anna and Joachim.
2. The painting on the other side of the chapel shows Saint John of Nepomuk.
________________________
The well known artist Paul Troger painted the altar painting which shows the marriage of Mary.
The altar with angels on either side is dominated by a large marble tabernacle
in the form of a dome and a golden tabernacle-door which is decorated
with a relief of the Virgin Mary mourning over the dead body of Christ.
________________________
The golden tabernacle-door is decorated with a relief of the Virgin Mary mourning over the dead body of Christ.
________________________
1
2
The two niches are dominated by gilded lead statues by Franz Kohl.
1. The suffering Madonna
2. John the Baptist
________________________
The ceiling fresco is by Daniel Gran a baroque artist and shows Mary Magdalene
surrounded by the virtues of faith, hope and charity.
