Archduchess Marianne’s worsening condition — she is still in a fragile state, recovering from her serious illness, remember? — lends the chapter a distinctly melancholic tone. It seems hardly a day suited for investigative work.
Instead, she seeks privacy in St Joseph’s chapel, located in the north-western part of the Leopoldine wing and thus the closest shrine to the Imperial apartments. In 1757, it was still the ‘old’ chapel, with its original altarpiece depicting the death of St Joseph. The chapel was completely renovated in 1772, after which it acquired its present appearance. Today, the Leopoldine wing houses the office of the Federal President of Austria, and the rooms are not open to the public.
Another chamber chapel for intimate meditation was located in the Swiss Court, built in 1712 for Empress Dowager Eleonora Magdalena (mother of Karl VI, and Marianne’s great-grandmother). A third small chapel stood in the Amalienburg, the part of the palace connecting the Leopoldine wing to the State Chancellery wing.
Marianne’s unexpected encounter with the elderly Count Khevenhüller — who is likewise seeking solitude in his own anxiety — fosters a long and trusting conversation between them. Through this private exchange, Marianne gains new documents, references, and insights.
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