Why did Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach return to Austria after about 16 years in Italy?

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach returned to his homeland after approximately 16 years in Italy at an opportune moment for his career. Following imperial victories over the Turks, the Habsburg empire was emerging as a major European power, and Holy Roman emperor Leopold I sought to project his authority as an absolute monarch through the construction of magnificent buildings.1

This period created a high demand for new architecture, as the aristocracy aimed to emulate the emperor’s display of power, and the Roman Catholic clergy sought to glorify their victories over the infidel and the Protestant Reformation. Furthermore, the city of Vienna and the surrounding countryside required significant rebuilding following the destruction caused by the siege of 1683. These factors, combined with a rapid economic recovery, fostered a flourishing environment for art and architecture that provided the ideal setting for Fischer to embark on his successful career.1