Artworks Catalogue

Location

Austria, Styria, Ehrenhausen

In front of the Parish and Pilgrimage Church Our Lady of Sorrows

Artwork

Emmabrunnen in Ehrenhausen (St John of Nepomuk Group)

Type

Sculptural group

Inscriptions

1. EMMA BRUNNEN (on the pedestal beneath the coat of arms)
2. HIER STAND DIE ALTE KIRCHE, WELCHE NACH ERBAUUNG DER BESTEHENDEN PFARRKIRCHE DURCH DIE FÜRSTEN EGGENBERG DIESEM STANDBILDE UM 1750 PLATZ MACHTE. DURCH DAS HOCHHERZIGE GESCHENK DER VOLLEN BAUSUMME VON EMMA FREIFRAU V. LUTTEROTH [...] KONNTE DIE WASSERLEITUNG [...] 1901 [...] ERÖFFNET WERDEN. (on the plague on the backside of the pedestal)

Critical History

The sculptural group depicting St Mary and child worshiped by St John of Nepomuk was erected on the site of the former benefice church („Benefiziatskirche“), a small court chapel of the Eggenberg family, where mass was held before the new parish church was finished.1 The chapel was demolished around 1750, perhaps after the consecration of the new parish church in 1754. The alliance coat of arms "Eggenberg-Leslie" on the pedestal (fig. 2) refers to Princess Maria Theresia of Eggenberg and Carl Cajetan Count Leslie, the new owners of Eggenberg since 1755. A payment to a stonemason for 5 1/2 days work at the "S. Nepomucene" in the account book of the parish (1753) may refer to the pedestal of the sculptural group.2 In 1901 a water supply was installed in Ehrenhausen due to the donation of Emma von Lutheroth. The 18th century monument in front of the church was converted into a fountain and named "Emmabrunnen" after the benefactress (Ins. 1 and 2). Peter Stauder dates the monument around 1750, he names Veit Königer as author of the sculptures - without any archival confirmation.3 Königer came to Graz around 1754. Horst Schweigert attributes the sculptural group to Philipp Jakob Straub around 1752-1755 only due to stilistic reasons and the high quality comparable to the sculptures of the church façade.4 The attribution to Philipp Jakob has to be questioned because of a newly found evidence that his brother Joseph Straub from Marburg worked for Ehrenhausen shortly before his death in 1756. A collaboration of the brothers is also possible.5

Construction / Execution

The coat of arms "Eggenberg-Leslie" is mounted on the front of the high stone pedestal, which on the small sides is decorated with monumental volutes. The figural group on top has been arranged in a pyramidal composition, with a more prominently elaborated front side. The stone basin and the pipe of the fountain are later additions (1901).

Components

Sculpture

Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)

Completed: ca. 1753 – ca. 1756

Technique(s): stone carving

Material(s): sandstone

Comment

A restoration in 1953 is mentioned in the Dehio-Handbuch.6

Conservation-restoration

1984

Treatment Description

Dipl. Rest. Heinz Hübl undertook a restoration and preservation of the sculptures of the Emmabrunnen in 1984. One hand of St Mary had to be rebuilt.

1990

Treatment Description

In 1989 a car hit the freshly restored Emmabrunnen and damaged the sculptures. New repairs had to be undertaken.

Images

1. The Emmabrunnen in front of the town hall of Ehrenhausen, St John of Nepomuk group by Philipp Jakob Straub (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
2. The alliance coat of arms Eggenberg-Leslie on the pedestal (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
3. Ehrenhausen, Emmabrunnen, St Mary with the child and St John of Nepomuk in devotion (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
4. Ehrenhausen, Emmabrunnen, relief depicting the martyrdom of St John of Nepomuk (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)
5. Ehrenhausen, Emmabrunnen, throne of St Mary in form of a bridge (photo by Julia Strobl, 2018)