Katharina "Kathie" Fröhlich (10 June 1800 – 3 March 1879) was engaged to

Franz Grillparzer Franz Seraphicus Grillparzer (15 January 1791 – 21 January 1872) was an Austrian writer who was considered to be the leading Austrian dramatist of the 19th century. His plays were and are frequently performed at the famous Burgtheater in Vien ...

for 50 years. She founded the Schwestern-Fröhlich-Stiftung in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, and became a patron of artists and writers.

Life

Katharina Fröhlich was born in Vienna in 1800 as the third of four daughters of Matthias Fröhlich (14 April 1756 – 24 August 1843) and Barbara Mayr (1764–1841). In 1821 she became engaged to Franz Grillparzer.Cowen, Roy C. "Grillparzer, Franz (1791-1872)." ''European Writers'': ''The Romantic Century'', edited by George Stade, vol. 5, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1983, pp. 417-445. ''Gale eBooks'', link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX1386900110/GVRL?u=txshracd2598&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=2cd9b61d. Accessed 3 Aug. 2022. In 1849 Grillparzer rented an apartment with Katharina Fröhlich and her sisters Anna, Josephine and Barbara in Vienna at Spiegelgasse 21. This household remained together until Grillparzer's death in 1872. Grillparzer, who never made good his promise to marry Katharina Fröhlich, bequeathed his entire estate to the sisters. Fröhlich herself gave Grillparzer's inheritance to the city of Vienna and initiated the

Franz-Grillparzer-Preis The Franz Grillparzer Prize was a literary award, named after the writer Franz Grillparzer. It was established in 1872, shortly after his death, by his lover, Katharina Fröhlich. After her death in 1879, the award was continued by a donation to th ...

, which until 1971 was given every three years to the "in relative terms best German drama that was performed on a prominent stage in the last three years and that had not hitherto received an award." Just before her death, she founded the Schwestern-Fröhlich-Stiftung, with the aim to promote artists and scientists. For example,

Marie Eugenie Delle Grazie Marie Eugenie Delle Grazie (14 August 1864 – 18 February 1931) was an Austrian writer, considered one of the most successful women writers of her time. She was a recipient of the Bauernfeld Prize. Life The daughter of Cäsar Delle Grazie ...

and Jacob David Julius were supported by the foundation. Fröhlich died in 1879 and was buried in the

Hietzinger Cemetery The Hietzing Cemetery is a cemetery in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna. Notable burials (selection) * Alban Berg (1885–1935), composer * Jean-Baptiste Clery (1759–1809), valet to King Louis XVI * Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf (1852 ...

in Vienna, where her grave can still be seen (Group 7, Number 53). In 1928/1929 a residential complex was built in Vienna's Malfattigasse, 149 apartments, and named ''Fröhlichhof'' in honor of Katharina Fröhlich. The Fröhlich sisters' possessions and Grillparzer's original room can be visited in the Vienna

Wien Museum The Vienna Museum (german: Wien Museum or ''Museen der Stadt Wien'') is a group of museums in Vienna consisting of the museums of the history of the city. In addition to the main building in Karlsplatz and the Hermesvilla, the group includes nume ...

References

19th-century Austrian people * Philanthropists from Vienna Patrons of literature 1800 births 1879 deaths {{Austria-bio-stub