Alt Wien: Franziskanerplatz

Max Pollak

The Franziskanerplatz - or Franciscan Place - is a square in the Old Town of central Vienna, Austria. Pictured in Max Pollak's large-format etching is the facade of the 16th century Roman Catholic monastery, Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan Church), and, in the lower right, the Moses Fountain. It appears to be early morning, with a beam of light illuminating the top of the church's facade. Two women chat in the lower left-hand corner; behind them, a man in a top hat walks briskly past.

The streets of the Franziskanerplatz remain mostly unchanged today, and it continues to be a popular destination for tourists and residents alike.The Franciscan Church was originally built in the early 14th century, and was renovated in the 16th century using components of old Gothic structures as well as contemporary Renaissance designs. It houses the oldest playable organ in Vienna, dating to 1642. The Moses Fountain's plinth and statue were designed by Johann Martin Fischer in 1789 to adorn the early 17th century basin.