GROUPS OF STATUARY FOR THE PEDIMENT OF THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT IN VIENNA.
The pediment of the central pavilion and the two side pavilions of the new House of Parliament, at Vienna, are to be ornamented with groups of statuary. The group in the middle pediment represents the granting of the constitution by the Emperor Francis Joseph, and was executed by Professor Helmer.
STATUARY FOR THE VIENNA HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT.—SCIENCE AND LITERATURE. (GROUP TO THE LEFT.)
The pediment of the left wing is ornamented by a group representing Justice, and the pediment of the right wing by a group representing the Home Government.
Johannes Benk, the well known Austrian sculptor, designed and executed the last mentioned group. The two figures at the left hand end of this group represent Science and Literature, and those at the right hand end, Industry and Commerce. The entire group consists of nine figures, the middle figure being seated and the rest standing, sitting, and lying, as the space in the pediment allows.
A seated female figure studying a papyrus roll represents Science, and the adjacent female figure, resting one arm on the figure representing Science, and the other, on a lyre, represents Literature or Poetry.
Industry is represented by a strong and powerful woman holding a hammer, and the figure of Mercury and the prow of a vessel represent Commerce.