“The Cardinal” by Giacomo Manzú
Italian artist Manzú placed a few sculptures in Salzburg – one of which is the „Cardinal“ (1969) in between Domplatz- and Residenzplatz Square, at the northern archway.
In front of the arches on the north side of the cathedral stands “The Cardinal” by Giacomo Manzú. The oeuvre of this Italian artist is indeed shaped by his fascination with cardinals. In fact, he created more than 50 figures, each unique.
The figure in Salzburg is not intended to reference a specific person, with individuality taking a step back in favor of a more generic representation. The high plinth gives the statue a certain aloofness, a concentrated posture clearly evident in the closed form. The eyes of this lord of the church are directed towards the Residenzplatz, the artist himself having chosen the precise location and orientation of his statue. It was a gift from Manzú to Salzburg, a city for which he felt close affection. Together with Oscar Kokoschka, Manzú was one of the leading lights of the Summer Academy of Fine Arts.
Other works by Manzú in Salzburg include the big “Door of Love” at Salzburg Cathedral, the “Female Dancer” on the Rose Hill in Mirabell Gardens, as well as the figure “Prince-Archbishop Paris Lodron” at the Salzburg University Faculty of Natural Sciences.
