Karl II, Archduke of Austria and ruler of Inner Austria (r. 1564-1590), chose Seckau Abbey as the final resting place for himself and his wife, Maria Anna von Bayern. He commissioned a substantial mausoleum in 1581, with work beginning in 1587 under the direction of Alexander de Verda and concluding under the oversight of Sebastian Carlone in 1612. (...)
Karl II, Archduke of Austria and ruler of Inner Austria (r. 1564-1590), chose Seckau Abbey as the final resting place for himself and his wife, Maria Anna von Bayern. He commissioned a substantial mausoleum in 1581, with work beginning in 1587 under the direction of Alexander de Verda and concluding under the oversight of Sebastian Carlone in 1612. The mausoleum contains an important selection of statuary and paintings, many executed by court painter Teodoro Ghisi. The mausoleum is considered an important monument of the early baroque, illustrating a clear transition from Renaissance and mannerist styles. The structure became the burial site for a number of members of the Habsburg dynasty.
Karl II, younger brother of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II, was a noted benefactor of the arts. He founded the University of Graz in 1585 and had a keen interest in music, but is perhaps best remembered for creating the Lipizzan breed of horses, whose stallions are still prized today.
