Palais Kinsky

Palais Kinsky, also known as Palais Daun-Kinsky, is located in the inner city at Freyung 4 and Herrengasse.It is one of Vienna’s most important High Baroque palaces.

The outstanding front, with its doorway based on Roman models and ornate features, defined style in Vienna long into the nineteenth century.

The interior architecture is equally impressive, with the staircase (perhaps created by Antonio Beduzzi) and ceiling frescoes on the piano nobile.These are by Carlo Carlone and depict the apotheosis of Count Daun, with quadrature painting by Marcantonio Chiarini. The staircase here connects two major levels in two superimposed runs, each broken by an intermediate landing, and is joined on the exterior by a massive arrangement of eight pillars.The last floor is within the stairway, with a surrounding balcony that serves as a type of frame for the ceiling fresco, making the picture’s illusionary perspective look even more floating and surreal.

Joseph Kracker created the sculptures within, as well as the statues on the outer gateway.The side wings were restored multiple times in the nineteenth century, with furniture created by Rudolf Weyr and others.

The main gate, the steps of the beautiful staircase, door and window stones, and Kaiserstein foundation plates were all built by expert stonemasons Johann Georg Haresleben and Simon Sasslaber from Kaisersteinbruch.

History

The palace was designed by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt for Field Marshal Wirich Philipp Graf Daun between 1713 and 1719, when the Ottoman Empire was defeated and Vienna gloriosa was established.Johann Joseph Reichsgraf von Khevenhüller purchased the mansion from the client’s son, Leopold Joseph Graf Daun, in 1746.Prince Józef Antoni Poniatowski, the Polish General and Marshal of France, was born here on May 7, 1763.In 1764, Khevenhüller sold the palace to Ferdinand Bonaventura II, Count von Harrach, President of the Reich Hofrat.Rosa Gräfin von Kinsky received it in 1790.Franz Ulrich Prince Kinsky sold it in 1986.

It was once the headquarters of the Stadtguardia, a precursor of the police force.The palace became an officers’ club for the British occupying forces after 1945.The palace is now held by a foundation established by Karl Wlaschek in 2015; the Wlaschek tomb is located in the second courtyard of the home.Graves may be created on one’s own land with an area of 2000 m2 or more, according to Vienna Municipal Law.Wlaschek used this to create a tomb in the Palais Kinsky for his family.Not just his parents, but also his fourth wife, who died in 2003, are buried here.

Vienna, Austria