Palais Nathaniel Rothschild
Encyclopedia
The Palais Nathaniel Rothschild was a palatial house in Vienna
, one of five Palais Rothschild
in the city owned by members of the Rothschild banking family of Austria
.
It was commissioned by Baron Nathaniel von Rothschild
(1836–1905), the brother of Albert Salomon von Rothschild
. French architect Jean Girette designed and built the French Neo-baroque
style palace between 1871 and 1878, situated at Theresianumgasse 16-18, in the IV (Wieden
) district of Vienna
.
The palace was two storeys high, surrounded by a lush garden decorated with fountain
s and sculpture
s, the whole built to showcase the wealth of the Rothschild family. Baron Nathaniel organized a huge ball
for the housewarming, including an orchestra playing antique instruments from the Baron's own priceless collection of musical instrument
s. The art collection housed here was renowned. Baron Nathaniel was also famous for his substantial philanthropic and charitable
activities.
After the Anschluß (Annexation) of Austria
by Nazi Germany
in 1938, the family were forced to flee and the estates seized by the Nazis. The Gestapo
moved in and used this palace for their interrogation
s. The building itself was heavily damaged during Allied bomb
ing raids in 1944.
At the end of World War II
the owners returned to find a smoldering ruin. The ruins were torn down; some of the materials were used for reconstruction around the city, apparently including the Stephansdom
. The estate was eventually sold to the Austrian Chamber of Labour
by the sole heiress, Baroness Clarice de Rothschild, in 1950. The Labour Chamber had the rest of the ruins torn down and erected a simple modern building for its trainees.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, one of five Palais Rothschild
Palais Rothschild
Palais Rothschild refers to a number of palaces in Vienna, Austria, built and owned by the titled Austrian branch of the Rothschild banking family...
in the city owned by members of the Rothschild banking family of Austria
Rothschild banking family of Austria
The Rothschild banking family of Austria was founded by Salomon Mayer von Rothschild in 1820 in Vienna in what was then the Austrian Empire.-History:...
.
It was commissioned by Baron Nathaniel von Rothschild
Nathaniel Anselm von Rothschild
Nathaniel Mayer Anselm von Rothschild was a member of the Rothschild banking family of Austria.Born in Vienna, he was the fifth child and first son of Anselm von Rothschild and Charlotte von Rothschild . As the eldest male, he was expected to take over the running of the family's Viennese bank, S...
(1836–1905), the brother of Albert Salomon von Rothschild
Albert Salomon von Rothschild
Albert Salomon von Rothschild was a banker in Austria-Hungary and a member of the Rothschild banking family of Austria. Businesses that he owned included Creditanstalt and the Northern Railway.-Personal life:...
. French architect Jean Girette designed and built the French Neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
style palace between 1871 and 1878, situated at Theresianumgasse 16-18, in the IV (Wieden
Wieden
Wieden is the 4th municipal District of Vienna, Austria . It is near the center of Vienna and was established as a district in 1850, but borders changed later...
) district of Vienna
Districts of Vienna
The districts of Vienna are 23 named city sections of Vienna, Austria, which are also numbered for easy reference. For centuries, district boundaries have changed...
.
The palace was two storeys high, surrounded by a lush garden decorated with fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
s and sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s, the whole built to showcase the wealth of the Rothschild family. Baron Nathaniel organized a huge ball
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
for the housewarming, including an orchestra playing antique instruments from the Baron's own priceless collection of musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s. The art collection housed here was renowned. Baron Nathaniel was also famous for his substantial philanthropic and charitable
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
activities.
After the Anschluß (Annexation) of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in 1938, the family were forced to flee and the estates seized by the Nazis. The Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
moved in and used this palace for their interrogation
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
s. The building itself was heavily damaged during Allied bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
ing raids in 1944.
At the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the owners returned to find a smoldering ruin. The ruins were torn down; some of the materials were used for reconstruction around the city, apparently including the Stephansdom
Stephansdom
St. Stephen's Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP...
. The estate was eventually sold to the Austrian Chamber of Labour
Austrian Chamber of Labour
The Chamber of Labour , is an organisation that represents the interests of 3 million Austrian employees and consumers...
by the sole heiress, Baroness Clarice de Rothschild, in 1950. The Labour Chamber had the rest of the ruins torn down and erected a simple modern building for its trainees.