Literis et Artibus

Literis et Atribut


Ing. Josef Hrdý


The appreciation of performance in the sciences and arts has a long tradition in Austria dating back to the time of the Habsburg monarchs. Examples include the Maria Theresa Medal for poetic achievements
PROEMIVM STVDII POETICI.


Or the gold medals of Ferdinand V.
DE LITERIS MERITO DE ARTE MERITO possibly
LITERIS ET ARTIBUS


From the period of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
LITERIS ET ARTIBUS


However, the medals in question were not wearable, they were circular and their value was estimated by the number of gold ducats. The first wearable decoration of this type was the "Honorary Decoration for Art and Science" in the form of a gold oval medallion framed by a black enamel laurel wreath on a red necklace ribbon, established by the monarch on 18 August 1887.


The Republic of Austria continued the earlier imperial recognition of scientists and artists and the federal government established the Austrian Medal of Honour and the Austrian Cross of Merit for Science and Art on 9 October 1934. In this case, too, the beaded cross was used in the decoration, as in the Order of Merit, but in a modified version. Interestingly, the highest degree was also inspired by the decoration of Franz Joseph I, taking the form of an oval medal suspended from a necklace-like red ribbon.


The post-war 2nd Austrian Republic continued this tradition. This time, it did not have to turn to the Allied Control Commission for approval of the establishment of this decoration, since the date of its foundation, 25 May 1955, immediately followed the signing of the State Treaty with Austria, when the sovereignty of the state was already fully realized.


The new state decorations were called the Austrian Medal of Honour and the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.


"DAS ÖSTERREICHISCHE EHRENZEICHEN UND ÖSTERREISCHE EHRENKREUZ FÜR WISSENSCHAFT
This is practically the same designation as during the First Republic. And the same arrangement as the 1934 decoration was repeated. This meant that the highest grade, which is the Medal of Honour, has the character of a commander's grade, because the jewel is suspended on a red neck ribbon to help decorative charts (see picture).


The second grade is the Cross of Honour 1st Class and is in the nature of an officer's clasp cross, and finally the lowest grade is the Cross of Honour, where a white cross with broader arms is placed on a red cross with slimmer arms. In the centre is then a gilded circular medallion with a three-line inscription: 'LITERIS / ET / ARTIBUS'.


The cross on the neckband and the cross on the neckband are the same size ( 58x58 mm) with the medallion 16 mm in diameter, the cross of the lowest level is 44x44 mm. The art design comes from the academy. Pirkhert. The use of the Maltese Cross in this jewel expresses the close relationship to the Medal of Honour for Merit for the Republic of Austria.


According to the statutes, this decoration is awarded in two curiae - one for science and the other for art. In addition, the exclusivity of the 1st degree, i.e. the Honorary Decoration, is underlined by the introduction of a numerus clausus for the award, which is 36 for Austrian citizens (eighteen from each curia) and 36 for foreigners. (During the First Republic the numeru causus for the 1st degree was only 24 persons.) The limited award does not apply to the lower degrees (Crosses of Honour).