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The right side altar in St Leonard's chapel, Wiesensteig (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)

Angel on the left side (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)

The aedicula on the right side altar (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)

Location

Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Wiesensteig

Artwork

Right Side Altar 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 14^th 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 chapel ("auf den Gottesakher"). Johann Georg Straub was paid for the gilded decoration of the high altar in 1747.2 The two Straub brothers were responsible for the carpentry as well as for the polychromy, the gilding and most of the sculptural and decorative woodcarving for the altars. Which of them worked on the right 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 a saint with pilgrimage hat and staff, who during holy mass has a vision of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary; the heart is burning, it is girdled with a rosary and pierced through with a sword. In the aedicula is a painting of St John 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 base of the columns as well as the 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
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: 1737 – 1738; Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter; Technique(s): wood carving; Material(s): wood
Polychromy: Author: Johannes Straub (Wiesensteig 1681 – Wiesensteig 1759); Completed: 1738 – 1738; Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter
Polychromy: Author: (the Elder) Johann Georg Straub (Wiesensteig 1674 – Wiesensteig 1755); Completed: 1738 – 1738; Patron(s): Collegiate Chapter of St Cyriacus, Wiesensteig, chapter
Painting: Vision of the Immaculate Heart of St Mary; 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.3

Images

The right side altar in St Leonard's chapel, Wiesensteig (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
Angel on the left side (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
The aedicula on the right side altar (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)

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Catalogue entry prepared by Julia Strobl

Recommended citation: Julia Strobl, Right Side Altar in the Cemetery Chapel of St Leonard in Wiesensteig, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 24/01/2026) URL

Sources and Bibliography

City Archive Wiesensteig (Stadtarchiv Wiesensteig), Kirchenrechnungen St. Leonhard auf dem Gottesacker in Wisenstaig (account books of St. Leonard on the cemetery of Wiesensteig)
Walter Ziegler, Die Kulturdenkmale des Kreises Göppingen, Göppingen, 1975
Walter Ziegler, Der Kreis Göppingen, Stuttgart, Aalen, Konrad Theiss Verlag, 1985
Wiesensteig, Kath. Pfarramt Wiesensteig (ed.), Ottobeuren, Hannes Oefele Verlag , 1990
Dagmar Zimdars et al., Dehio-Handbuch. Baden-Württemberg I. Die Regierungsbezirke Stuttgart und Karlsruhe, Berlin, Deutscher Kunstverlag, 1993

Notes

1 Walter Ziegler, 1975, 136. - According to Ziegler, 1985, 226 and Dehio, 1993, 857, the chapel is a late 16th century building.

2 Account books St. Leonhard, StA, R/S 56 (1737), R/S 57 (1738): "An dem vor einem Jahr angefangenen Kichenbau ist dißes und nachstehendes Jahr continuiert selbiger zur perfection gebracht, daruffhin aber lauth Specif: Schein folgendes bezahlt worden, [...] Schreiner / No: 12 Hanns Jerg Straub ist wegen Verfärtigung, und Fassung der neuen Kanzel, und wegen 9. Kirchen Stühl sambt Trünckhgeldt veraccordiert. Hier auch L: Sch: Bezahlt worden ...178,- / No: 13 Item hat selbiger ein Neben Alterlein gefasset, und selbiges zu machen ist ihm lauth Accord vor seine Arbeith geraicht worden ...50,- / No: 14 Gleichermassen hat Hanns Jerg Straub die Chor=Stühl verfärtiget. [...] vor seinen Lohn lauth accord Empfang ...25,- / No: 15 Vor eine doppelte Kirchen Thüre zu machen L. Sch: demselbig antheihlet worden ...3,10 / No: 16 Dan hat selbiger ein Crucifix in die Kirchen verfertiget, wo... man bezahlt hat L. Sch: 11,- / No: 17 [...] Kirchen Thüren anzustreichen, [...] 5, 42 / No: 18 Johannes Straub, welcher den Chorr Altar gefasset, und lauth accord sambt fassung eines neben alterlein 230 fl. zu empfangen hat, ist auff d. [...] bezahlt worden ... 130,- / No: 19 item wurde ihme wegen machung einiger Kirchen stüehl guett geth.. L. Sch. ...14, 24". - R/S 66 (1747): "No: 2: Hans Jerg Straub Schreiner einen vergulten Zierat auf dem Altar zu machen bezahlt lauth Scheins... 10 xr." - Johannes Straub received only a part of the payment (130 fl.) in 1738; the rest was paid in tranches until 1743, see R/S 62 (1743): "No. 3. 4. 5. 6. dem Johan Straub seinen actio recht vollendts L: Sch. abgeführt auf 2 mahl mit 79 fl. Item ihme L: Sch. 5 fl. / ferners ihme vor eine neüe Tabernacl auf den Gottsakher L. Sch: entricht 10,15."

3 Ziegler, 1975, 136; Wiesensteig, 1990, 12.