Location
Germany, Bavaria, Polling
Parish Church of the Holy Cross (Pfarrkirche Heilig Kreuz)
Catholic parish of the HolyCross in Polling
Artwork
Tabernacle and the Decoration of the High Altar in the Parish Church of the Holy Cross in Polling
Type
High altar
Dimensions
Height: 821 cm, width: 703 cm
Inscriptions
- IN NOMINE JESU (cartouche above cross)
Critical History
Lippert lists Straubs work in Polling with no. 58 but he only mentions the tabernacle with two sculptures. 1 The high altar and the 2 sidealtars were created in 1628 about 130 years before. Straub gives the highaltar and the 2 sidealtar a more modern view. He adds a representative tabernacle with 2 tall sculptures of St Henry and St Kunigunde and the decorated frame for the roman cross a icon of grace that was venerated for many centuries. Following the legend St Kunigunde had found the Holy Cross while hunting in the forest. In 17th century the cross was integrated in the highaltar. Volk dates the work of Straub in 1763-64. For the construction/completition of his work in situ Straub works for 8 days in Polling. Painter and gilder were Albert Wenzl, Polling and Michael Wittmer, Murnau.2
The center of the huge tabernacle is the relief in the niche above the doors of the tabernacle showing the last supper. Two angels holding candelabras are positioned on both sides of the relief . Left and right are kneeling two female sculptures which represent faith (left) and hope (right). Below on the front of the consoles are 2 reliefs showing two scenes: "Christ in Emmaus" and "Mannalese" of the life of Jesus Christ. On top of the tabernacle is kneeling an angel a putto is holding a basket with flaming hearts a symbol for love. The representative sculptures of the emperor St Henry (right) and his wife St Kunigunde (left) seem to praise the Lord. The Holy Cross is decorated with a baldachin and a curtain which is held by two puttis. The cartouche above the cross and the letters IHS were also added by Straub.
Construction / Execution
The materials used are sawed and carved wood, ground- and painting layers and gilding. The sculptures of St Kunigunde and St Heinrich are about 220 cm high.
Components
- Carpentry
- Completed: 1763 – 1764
- Technique(s): sawing
- Sculpture
- Author: Johann Baptist Straub (Wiesensteig ca. 1704 – Munich 1784)
- Completed: 1763 – 1764
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Polychromy
- Completed: 1763 – 1764
- Technique(s): polished white, water gilding
Comment
May be more of the decoration added in the middle of 18thwas created by Straub.
Images
- The tabernacle at the highaltar of the parishchurch Holy-Cross, Polling, photo Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites photo Michael Forstner 07.2017
- The tabernacle at the highaltar of the parishchurch Holy-Cross, Polling, photo Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites Michael Forstner 07.2017
- The tabernacle at the highaltar of the parishchurch Holy-Cross, Polling, photo Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites Michael Forstner 07.2017
- The sculpture of emperor St Henry at the tabernacle of the highaltar in the parishchurch Holy-Cross, Polling photo Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites Michael Forstner 07.2017
- The empress St Kunigunde at the tabernacle of the highaltar in the parishchurch Holy-Cross, Polling photo Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites photo Michael Forstner 07.2017
Catalogue entry prepared by Rupert Karbacher
Recommended citation: Rupert Karbacher, Tabernacle and the Decoration of the High Altar in the Parish Church of the Holy Cross in Polling, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 03/02/2026) URL
