Josephinum

Today the Josephinum in Vienna is a fascinating museum of medical history, housed in the historic buildings of the former Medical-Surgical Academy. Emperor Joseph II founded the institution in 1784 to train military physicians for the Austrian army. The new building on Währinger Straße, in what is now the 9th District, was built between 1783 and 1785 to plans by Isidor Marcellus Amandus Canevale. Architecturally, the structure marks the transition from Josephinian Baroque Classicism to full-fledged Neoclassicism. Inside, the central wing impresses with a grand staircase whose steps are made of hard, white Kaiserstein limestone. The front garden also holds a lead statue of Hygieia, the goddess of health, created in 1787 by Johann Martin Fischer.

After a comprehensive renovation that included restoring the historic lecture hall, the building reopened to the public as a museum in September 2022. Alongside the Institute for the History of Medicine, the building houses an important collection on the history of medicine. The centerpiece of the exhibits is an extensive series of anatomical wax models that Emperor Joseph II commissioned from artists in Florence in the late 18th century. These models, which at the time were the center of the art of wax modeling, were originally used for teaching but were also open to interested members of the public. Today, visitors gain an impressive insight into the development of medical science and art, complemented by historic library holdings and other collections that reflect the long tradition of the house.