Location
Austria, Carinthia, St. Paul im Lavanttal
Collegiate and parish church St. Paul im Lavanttal (Stifts- und Pfarrkirche St. Paul im Lavanttal)
Artwork
The altar of Mary in the south transept of the collegiate and parish church in St. Paul im Lavanttal
Type
Side altar
Critical History
The sculptural decoration of Philipp Jakob Straub in the collegiate and parish church St Paul im Lavanttal shows in a remarkable way that the artist also worked successfully in Carinthia.
Until the restoration in 1936, the altar of Mary was situated in the south side apse, which it covered.1 It is attributed to Philipp Jakob Straub.2 In a niche in the centre, Mary sits enthroned with her son under a carved canopy. She is flanked by the two standing sculptures of St Joachim and St Josef, both with shepherd’s crook in one hand. They appear very dynamic, which is supported by the bouffant drapery of their clothing. While St Joachim remains stable and introverted, St Josef’s body is remarkably twisted and full of motion. This causes the uncovering of his left shoulder. His eyes are raised towards heaven, his face is characterised by a pathetic feature. The stylistic relationship to the sculptures of the altar of St John of Nepomuk in the parish church of Graz is undeniable.
In the upper zone Archangel Rafael appears with Tobias. They are flanked by Archbishop Ildephons of Toledo and St Thomas of Aquin (missing). The sculptural group is completed by various putti.
Construction / Execution
Altar and sculptures are made of carved and painted wood.
Components
- Carpentry
- Completed: 1750 – 1775
- Technique(s): sawing
- Material(s): wood
- Sculpture
- Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
- Completed: 1750 – 1775
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Polychromy
- Completed: 1750 – 1775
- Material(s): bole, gold leaf, silver leaf
Images
- Side Altar (Marienaltar) in the collegiate and parish church in St. Paul im Lavanttal (photo by department of art conversation of the diocese of Carinthia /R. Schiestl, 2018)
- St Joachim (photo by department of art conversation of the diocese of Carinthia/R. Schiestl, 2018)
- St Josef (photo by department of art conversation of the diocese of Carinthia/R. Schiestl, 2018)
- Enthroned Madonna (photo by department of art conversation of the diocese of Carinthia/R. Schiestl, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Christina Pichler and Rosmarie Schiestl
Recommended citation: Christina Pichler and Rosmarie Schiestl, The altar of Mary in the south transept of the collegiate and parish church in St. Paul im Lavanttal, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 14/11/2025) URL
