Plague Column ( ro, Coloana Ciumei; german: Pestsäule), also known as Holy Trinity Monument, is a

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

monument in Timișoara's Union Square. It was placed in the central square of the city, then known as ''Domplatz'', in 1740 as an ''ex voto'' of chamber councilor . The monument belongs to the typology of

plague column Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...

s, widespread in the Baroque era throughout the South German, Bohemian and Hungarian space.

History

The statue commemorates the end of the

plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...

epidemic that devastated the entire Banat between 1731 and 1738. During the epidemic, in Timișoara alone, more than 1,300 people lost their lives (one-sixth of the city's population). The epidemic was brought to Banat by Austrian imperial troops, and among the dead in Timișoara were six mayors. The monument was created between 1739 and 1740 by sculptor

Georg Raphael Donner Georg Rafael Donner (24 May 1693 – 15 February 1741) was one of the most prolific Austrian sculptors of the 18th century. His style was baroque with some pseudo-ancient additions. He educated many German sculptors of his era, including his ...

in Vienna and transported via Danube– Tisza–

Bega Canal The Bega Canal or Begej Canal (; hu, Béga-csatorna) is a navigation canal of Romania and Serbia. It is the first navigation canal built on the present-day territory of Romania, and serves the city of Timișoara. Its name comes from the Bega riv ...

to Timișoara. The entire project was overseen and funded by chamber councilor , whose wife died during the epidemic. The statue was on display for 12 years in front of Deschan Palace, on the site of the current Bega Shopping Center. In 1755, at the insistence of Empress

Maria Theresa Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position ''suo jure'' (in her own right). ...

, the statue, dismantled into pieces, was placed in its current location.

Description

The corners of the base of the column are decorated with volutes, and on its sides there are three bas-reliefs, identified by as allegorical reliefs of Plague, War or Despair, but according to other opinions, they are scenes from the plague epidemic in Timișoara. Above the volutes are the statues of Sts.

Sebastian Sebastian may refer to: People * Sebastian (name), including a list of persons with the name Arts, entertainment, and media Films and television * ''Sebastian'' (1968 film), British spy film * ''Sebastian'' (1995 film), Swedish drama film ...

Roch Roch (lived c. 1348 – 15/16 August 1376/79 (traditionally c. 1295 – 16 August 1327, also called Rock in English, is a Catholic saint, a confessor whose death is commemorated on 16 August and 9 September in Italy; he is especially invoked a ...

and Charles Borromeo. In the upper register, there are three more statues of antipestilential saints: John of Nepomuk,

Barbara Barbara may refer to: People * Barbara (given name) * Barbara (painter) (1915–2002), pseudonym of Olga Biglieri, Italian futurist painter * Barbara (singer) (1930–1997), French singer * Barbara Popović (born 2000), also known mononymously as ...

and Francis Xavier (presumably). The surfaces of the column itself are covered with clouds, and on the central part of the main side of the column appears an empty baroque shield, provided on its upper part with a crown. The

Ionic capital The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite or ...

of the column is also decorated with festoons, and above it lies a complex cornice, on the central part of which was carved a simple floral decoration. The central representation of the column is the group of stone carved statues of the Holy Trinity, one of the most widespread variants of the plague columns. Between God the Father and Jesus seated on a throne, the Mother of God kneels with her hands clasped in prayer. The Father and the Son are just getting ready to place the crown on Mary's head. Above the three characters also appears the wrought iron figure of the dove of the Holy Spirit.

References

External links

* {{PlacesTimișoara Baroque architecture in Romania Baroque sculptures buildings and structures completed in 1740 buildings and structures in Timișoara historic monuments in Timiș County Marian and Holy Trinity columns monumental columns statues in Romania