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Joseph Straub and Joseph Holzinger – an archival confirmation of succession of Straub's workshop

Valentina Pavlič, PhD student in art history and one of the members in TrArS project, found a new archival source – a contract about a purchase of Joseph Straub’s workshop rights. This contract answers the question about the succession of the Straub's workshop and also sheds light on collaboration between Joseph Straub and Joseph Holzinger.

The contract was signed by Josepha – Joseph Straub's widow – and Joseph Holzinger, who is explicitly named as the sculptor's assistant: pro tempore bildhauers gesellen.

Beside information about the drawings, models, accessories, and materials such as wood and stone, which Holzinger took over with the purchase of the workshop rights, the new date of the purchase is of exceptional importance: September 16, 1756. So far, in the literature, the purchase was thought to be carried out only on March 2, 1758. But in fact, on this date only the entry in the land register was made. The newly discovered date therefore confirms Joseph Holzinger as a direct successor of Joseph Straub.

Valentina Pavlič presented the archive source in Bilten SUZD, the transcription of the archival source and its translation with more detailed analyses will be published shortly.