ÖZKD LXXVII Heft 2, pp. 73-82, 2024/04/24
Der Linzer Mariendom
Not only is the apse chapel of Linz’s Mariendom one of the cathedral’s architectural highlights, but it is also a meticulously designed synthesis of the arts with its decorative liturgical features on the altars and mosaic blind windows. A comprehensive study of the nine high altars and eight mosaics was carried out as part of a restoration survey conducted in 2022. The objective, in addition to examining the historical holdings, was to identify any damage and assess the overall condition. A concept for the historically appropriate preservation of the structure was developed in consultation with the Bishop Rudigier Foundation and the Austrian Federal Monuments Office (Bundesdenkmalamt) based on the findings, and this was followed by the exemplary restoration of a chapel. Going beyond a purely restoration-based perspective and taking into account materials, surfaces and methods, this article hazards a look at the décor of the apse chapel to create a greater awareness of this cohesive, complex ensemble and to underline its significance within the history of art.
