The Cloak of Conscience is one of the most striking sculptures beside Salzburg Cathedral.
Updated for 2026: The sculpture remains one of the standout sights around the cathedral square, and it is still best experienced with a quiet minute to take it in rather than a rushed photo stop.
At first glance, it looks like a hooded medieval traveler who has paused to rest by the church wall. Then you notice the unsettling detail: the seated figure has no face. In fact, there is no body inside at all - the robe is hollow, and the darkness within is part of what makes the work so powerful.
The piece is by Czech artist and sculptor Anna Chromy. After a serious accident in the early 1990s kept her away from painting for years, she turned her attention to sculpture. Her best-known version of the Cloak of Conscience, carved from a single block of white Carrara marble, brought her international recognition.
Chromy created several versions of this draped, faceless form in different materials and sizes, often giving each one its own title and setting. The Salzburg sculpture is cast in dark bronze and is known here as Pieta. Set against the wall of the city's main cathedral, it naturally invites a pause - not just to admire the craftsmanship, but to reflect for a moment as well.
