Location
Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Wiesensteig
Artwork
Left Side Altar of St John of Nepomuk in the Cemetery Chapel of St Leonard in Wiesensteig
Type
Side altar
Critical History
The cemetery chapel in Wiesensteig dedicated to St. Leonard was probably erected in the 14th century, but mentioned for the first time only in 1432; some alterations were made in 1592 and the great fire from 1648 must have damaged the chapel because an altar was consecrated in 1658.1 According to the account books of the cemetery church, in 1737 they extended the building and added a little tower; in the same year the shriners Johann Georg Straub the Elder and his brother Johannes Straub were commissioned with a new Baroque interior. In 1738 Johann Georg was paid 272 fl. 52 xr. in total for the pulpit (including polychromy), nine church pews, the choir stalls, the church door (including paint), the crucifix and one of the side altars (with polychromy); Johannes Straub delivered some more church pews, the high altar and one side altar with polychromy for 244 fl. 24 xr. in 1738 and in 1743 Johannes Straub made a new tabernacle for the cemetery ("auf den Gottesakher"). Johann Georg Straub was paid for the gilded decoration of the main altar in 1747.2 A sculptor from Deggingen delivered two angels for the John of Nepomuk altar on the left side in 1740.3 The two Straub brothers were definetely responsible for the carpentry, as well as for the polychromy. Which of them worked on the left side altar is not documented.
The altar shows a variation of late Baroque architecture with some stylistically retarding elements (acanthus, garlands of fruits). The altarpiece depicts Saint John of Nepomuk, in the aedicula is a painting of the Virgin Mary with a lily.
Construction / Execution
The altar consists of a mensa, a retable with an altar painting flanked by two columns and above the strutted gable, an aedicula with an oval painting flanked by two angels. The polychromy imitate green and brown marble, the capitals and basements of the columns as well as ornamental decoration are gilded. The two angel-putti are in polished white and partially gilded.
Components
- Carpentry
- Author: (the Elder) Johann Georg Straub (Wiesensteig 1674 – Wiesensteig 1755)
- Completed: 1737 – 1738
- Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter
- Technique(s): sawing, wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Carpentry
- Author: Johannes Straub (Wiesensteig 1681 – Wiesensteig 1759)
- Completed: 1737 – 1738
- Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter
- Technique(s): sawing, wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Sculpture
- Completed: 1741 – 1741
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Polychromy
- Author: (the Elder) Johann Georg Straub (Wiesensteig 1674 – Wiesensteig 1755)
- Completed: 1738 – 1741
- Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter
- Polychromy
- Author: Johannes Straub (Wiesensteig 1681 – Wiesensteig 1759)
- Completed: 1738 – 1741
- Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter
- Painting
- St John of Nepomuk
- Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter
- Technique(s): oil on canvas
Conservation-restoration
- 1969
Treatment Description
From 1968 to June 1969, architect Paul Anschütz (Wiesensteig) and painter Lothar Bohring (Kirchheim) restored the chapel.4
Images
- The St John of Nepomuk altar in St Leonard's chapel (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
- The aedicula of the St John of Nepomuk altar (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
- Angel on the right side (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Julia Strobl
Recommended citation: Julia Strobl, Left Side Altar of St John of Nepomuk in the Cemetery Chapel of St Leonard in Wiesensteig, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 24/01/2026) URL
