Franziskanerplatz, Vienna

The Church of St Jerome at present standing on this idyllic old-world square (Franziskanerplatz) is the only church in Vienna to possess a Renaissance facade. The interior is, however, decorated and fitted out in Baroque style. A 14th C. Poor Clares convent formerly occupied the site where this church was constructed between 1603 and 1611. Father Bonaventura Daum was responsible for the designs of the new building. The tower was added in 1614. In the interior the High Altar by Andrea Pozzo dating from 1707 is particularly notable as is a venerated picture of the Madonna and Child from about 1550 which probably came from Grünberg in Bohemia. Behind the altar is the monks' choir which is reached by passing through the sacristy. The Capristan Altar (second altar on the left) has a painting the "Martyrdom of St Capristan" by Franz Wagenschön. The Francis Altar (fourth altar on the left) contains a picture of the church's patron saint by Johann George Schmidt, and on the Crucifixion Altar (third altar on right) is a "Crucifixion" by Carlo Carlone (first half of the 18th C.). The carved Baroque organ of 1643 is the oldest organ in Vienna. It has folding doors which are in part painted, in part carved, with the figures of saints on them. According to legend, the Madonna on the reredos, popularly called the Madonna with the Axe, was being struck down by iconoclasts, but the axe remained firmly attached. Soldiers took this indestructable image of the Virgin with them on their campaign against the Turks and ascribed to it their victory at Pest in Hungary.