Karlskirche

{{Short description|Church in Vienna}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name         = Karlskirche
| infobox_width         = 
| image                 = Karlskirche Abendsonne 1.jpg
| image_size            = 500px
| alt                   = 
| caption               = 
| map_type              = Austria Vienna#Austria
| map_size              = 
| map_caption           = 
| location              = [[Vienna]], Austria
| geo                   = {{coord|48|11|53.81|N|16|22|18.84|E|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Roman Catholic]]
| rite                  = 
| region                = 
| state                 = 
| province              = 
| territory             = 
| prefecture            = 
| sector                = 
| district              = 
| cercle                = 
| municipality          = 
| consecration_year     = 1737
| status                = 
| functional_status     = Active
| heritage_designation  = 
| leadership            = P. DDr. Marek Pucalik O.Cr.
| website               = {{URL|www.karlskirche.at}}
| architecture          = yes
| architect             = [[Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach]], [[Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach]]
| architecture_type     = Church
| architecture_style    = [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]], [[Rococo]]
| founded_by            = 
| funded_by             = 
| general_contractor    = 
| facade_direction      = NNW
| groundbreaking        = 1716
| year_completed        = 1737
| construction_cost     = 
| specifications        = yes
| capacity              = 
| length                = 55 m (180.4 ft)
| width                 = 40 m (131.2 ft)
| width_nave            = 
| height_max            = 
| dome_quantity         = 1
| dome_height_outer     = 70 m (229.7 ft)
| dome_height_inner     = 
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| dome_dia_inner        = 
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}}
[[File:Wien - Karlskirche, Innenansicht (a).JPG|thumb|Interior of the church]]
[[File:Kościół św. Karola w Wiedniu - sklepienie.jpg|thumb|Interior of the frescoed dome]]
The '''''Rektoratskirche St. Karl Borromäus''''', commonly called the {{Langnf|de|'''Karlskirche'''|St. Charles Church}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/sights/from-g-to-k/st-charles-church|title=St. Charles Church|website=VIENNA – Now. Forever|access-date=August 13, 2019}}</ref> is a [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] church located on the south side of [[Karlsplatz]] in [[Vienna]], Austria. Widely considered the most outstanding baroque church in Vienna, as well as one of the city's greatest buildings, the church is dedicated to Saint [[Charles Borromeo]], one of the great counter-reformers of the sixteenth century.<ref name="brook">Brook 2012, pp. 146–147.</ref>

Located just outside of [[Innere Stadt]] in [[Wieden]], approximately 200 metres outside the [[Vienna Ring Road|Ringstraße]], the church contains a [[dome]] in the form of an elongated [[ellipsoid]].

== History ==
In 1713, one year after the last great [[Bubonic plague|plague]] [[epidemic]], [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor]], pledged to build a church for his namesake patron saint, [[Charles Borromeo]], who was revered as a healer for plague sufferers. An [[architectural competition]] was announced, in which [[Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach]] prevailed over, among others, [[Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena]] and [[Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt]]. Construction began in 1716 under the supervision of [[Anton Erhard Martinelli]]. After J.B. Fischer's death in 1723, his son, [[Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach]], completed the construction in 1737 using partially altered plans. The church originally possessed a direct line of sight to the [[Hofburg]] and was also, until 1918, the imperial patron parish church.

As a creator of historic architecture, the elder Fischer von Erlach united the most diverse of elements. The façade in the centre, which leads to the porch, corresponds to a [[Greek temple]] [[portico]]. The neighboring two columns, crafted by [[Lorenzo Mattielli]], found a model in [[Trajan's Column]] in [[Rome]]. Next to those, two tower pavilions extend out and show the influence of the Roman baroque ([[Gian Lorenzo Bernini|Bernini]] and [[Francesco Borromini|Borromini]]). Above the entrance, a [[dome]] rises up above a high drum, which the younger [[Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach|J.E. Fischer]] shortened and partly altered.

Next to the Church was the ''Spitaler Gottesacker''. The composer [[Antonio Vivaldi]] died in Vienna and was buried there on July 28, 1741, but his tomb has been lost over time. The church hosts regular Vivaldi concerts in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concert-vienna.info//vivaldi.html|title=Concerts in Vienna|website=www.concert-vienna.info|access-date=August 13, 2019}}</ref>

Hedwig Kiesler (age 19), later American movie actress and inventor [[Hedy Lamarr]], married [[Friedrich Mandl]] (age 32), businessman and Austrofascist, in the tiny chapel of this elaborate church on 10 August 1933. With over 200 prominent guests attending, Kiesler wore "a black-and-white print dress" and carried "a bouquet of white orchids."<ref>The book "Beautiful", p. 39, by Stephen Michael Shearer.</ref>

Since Karlsplatz was restored as an ensemble in the late 1980s, the church has garnered fame because of its dome and its two flanking columns of [[bas-relief]]s, as well as its role as an architectural counterweight to the buildings of the [[Musikverein, Vienna|Musikverein]] and of the [[Vienna University of Technology]]. The church is cared for by a religious order, [[Knights of the Cross with the Red Star|the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star]],  and has long been the [[parish church]] as well as the seat of the Catholic student ministry of the Vienna University of Technology.

==Iconography==
The [[iconography|iconographical]] program of the church originated from the imperial official Carl Gustav Heraeus and connects Saint Charles Borromeo with his imperial benefactor. The [[relief]] on the [[pediment]] above the entrance with the [[cardinal virtues]] and the figure of the patron on its apex point to the motivation of the donation. This sculpture group continues onto the attic story as well. The attic is also one of the elements which the younger Fischer introduced. The columns display scenes from the life of Charles Borromeo in a [[spiral]] relief and are intended to recall the two columns, Boaz and Jachim, that stood in front of the Temple at Jerusalem.  They also recall the [[Pillars of Hercules]] and act as symbols of imperial power. The entrance is flanked by angels from the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s.

[[File:Adolf Hitler - Die Karlskirche im Winter (1912).jpg|thumb|Karlskirche in the Winter of 1912, painted by Adolf Hitler]]

This program continues in the interior as well, above all in the dome [[fresco]] by [[Johann Michael Rottmayr]] of Salzburg and [[Gaetano Fanti]], which displays an intercession of Charles Borromeo, supported by the [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Virgin Mary]]. Surrounding this scene are the cardinal virtues. The frescos in a number of side chapels are attributed to [[Daniel Gran]].

The high [[altarpiece]] portraying the ascension of the saint was conceptualized by the elder Fischer and executed by [[Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff]]. The altar paintings in the side chapels are by various artists, including Daniel Gran, [[Sebastiano Ricci]], [[Martino Altomonte]] and Jakob van Schuppen. A wooden statue of St. Anthony by Josef Josephu is also on display.

As strong effect emanates from the directing of light and architectural grouping, in particular the arch openings of the main axis. The color scheme is characterized by [[marble]] with sparring and conscious use of gold leaf. The large round glass window high above the main altar with the Hebrew [[Tetragrammaton]]/[[Yahweh]] symbolizes God's [[omnipotence]] and simultaneously, through its warm yellow tone, God's love.  Below is a representation of Apotheosis of Saint Charles Borromeo.

Next to the structures at [[Schönbrunn Palace]], which maintain this form but are more fragmented, the church is Fischer's greatest work. It is also an expression of the Austrian ''joie de vivre'' stemming from the victorious end of the [[Ottoman wars in Europe|Turkish Wars]].

==Pulpit==
The pulpit of the church was probably designed by [[Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach]], and his plans might have been executed by a French furniture maker, [[Claude Le Fort du Plessy]] in 1735 although there are no surviving documents attesting their authorship or the manufacturing of the church furniture.<ref>Marek Pučalík: "Ihr sehet nehmlich einen Templ, desgleichen ihr vielleicht selten, oder vielleicht niemals gesehen." Zur Ikonographie der Wiener Karlskirche, in: Orbis artium. K jubileu Lubomíra Slavíčka, Brno, Masarykova univerzita, 2009, p. 566</ref> It is a wooden structure with rich floral, vegetal, rosette and rocaille ornaments, the finer carvings made of hard walnut, in a gold and brown colour scheme. The abat-voix forms a theatrical canopy with two putti holding a cross and a chalice with host; there is a flaming urn on the top. Around 1860 the abat-voix was enlarged. A wide rim was added distorting the original proportions, obscuring the elegant, swirling lines and creating a top-heavy effect. In 2006-2007 this rim was removed after a long debate and the pulpit was restored. The missing carvings of the canopy decorations were reconstructed and the original appearance of the structure was re-established.<ref>Verein Karskirche, Nachrichten, Ausgabe 4, Jänner 2007</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo, Viena, Austria, 2020-01-31, DD 164-166 HDR.jpg|Night view of the church
Karlskirche - Wien 006.jpg|Column with spiral narrative as on [[Trajan's Column]]
Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo, Viena, Austria, 2020-01-31, DD 72.jpg|Top of one of the two towers
Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo, Viena, Austria, 2020-01-31, DD 49-51 HDR.jpg|[[Altar (Catholic Church)|High Altar]], ''Apotheosis of Saint Charles Borromeo'', by Alberto Camesina
Wien Karlskirche - Hochaltar 5.jpg|Saints Jerome and Augustine, High Altar, by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
St. Charles's Church, Austria, Vienna - Gold piece high above the altar symbolizing Yahweh.jpg|The gold piece high above the altar symbolizing [[Yahweh]]
Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo, Viena, Austria, 2020-01-31, DD 64-66 HDR.jpg|Closer view of the dome
Intercession of Charles Borromeo supported by the Virgin Mary - Detail Rottmayr Fresco - Karlskirche - Vienna.JPG|Intercession of Charles Borromeo supported by the Virgin Mary by [[Johann Michael Rottmayr|Rottmayr]]
Wien - Karlskirche, Orgel.JPG|Organ loft
Karlskirche pulpit.jpg|The restored canopy of the abat-voix
Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo, Viena, Austria, 2020-01-31, DD 61-63 HDR.jpg|Huge reflecting ball inside the church
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church]]
* [[History of early modern period domes]]
* [[List of tallest domes]]

==References==
;Citations
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Brook |first=Stephan |title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Vienna |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Ltd. |location=London |year=2012 |isbn=978-0756684280}}
*{{cite book|last=Charpentrat |first=Pierre |title=Living Architecture: Baroque |publisher=Oldbourne  |year=1967 |oclc=59920343 |page=91}}
*{{cite book|last=Clark |first=Roger |title= Precedents in Architecture |publisher=Van Nostrand Reinhold |location=New York |year=1985 |pages=165, 208 |isbn=0-442-21668-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Gaillemin |first=Jean-Louis |title=Knopf Guides: Vienna |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |location=New York |year=1994 |isbn=978-0679750680}}
* {{cite book|last=Meth-Cohn |first=Delia |title=Vienna: Art and History |publisher=Summerfield Press |location=Florence |year=1993 |asin=B000NQLZ5K}}
* {{cite book|last=Schnorr |first=Lina |title=Imperial Vienna |publisher=HB Medienvertrieb GesmbH |location=Vienna |year=2012 |isbn=978-3950239690}}
* {{cite book |last=Schulte-Peevers |first=Andrea |editor=Alison Coupe |title=Michelin Green Guide Austria |publisher=Michelin Travel & Lifestyle |location=London |year=2007 |isbn=978-2067123250 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/michelingreengui00gwen }}
* {{cite book|last= Trachtenberg |first=Marvin |author2=Hyman, Isabelle |title=Architecture: From Prehistory to Post-Modernism |publisher=Prentice-Hall |location=Englewood Cliffs |year=1986 |isbn=0-13-044702-1 |pages=370–371}}
* {{cite book|last1=Unterreiner |first1=Katrin |last2=Gredler |first2=Willfried |title=The Hofburg |publisher=Pichler Verlag |location=Vienna |year=2009 |isbn=978-3854314912}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Karlskirche, Vienna}}
* {{official website|http://www.karlskirche.at/ }}
* [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/austria/vienna-karlskirche St Charles] at Sacred Destinations
* [http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Karlskirche.html Great Buildings]

{{Authority control}}
{{Charles Borromeo}}

[[Category:Charles Borromeo| ]]
[[Category:1737 establishments in the Habsburg monarchy]]
[[Category:1737 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:18th-century establishments in Austria]]
[[Category:18th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Austria]]
[[Category:Baroque church buildings in Austria]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Innere Stadt]]
[[Category:Church buildings with domes]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1737]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in the Vicariate of Vienna City]]