Location
Austria, Styria, Bärnbach
Holy Mountain (Heiliger Berg)
Bärnbach
Artwork
The sculptures of Mary, Mary Magdalene and Apostle John on the Holy Mountain in Bärnbach
Type
Sculptural group
Inscriptions
- Ph. J. Straub
Critical History
On top of the Holy Mountain, surrounded by four passion chapels, there are the three sculptures of Mary, Mary Magdalene and Apostle John. Originally the group was completed by three crosses with Christ and the penitent and the impenitent thief, what can be seen on historic photographs. Today, a simple wooden cross replaces the artworks.
Rochus Kohlbach attributes the sculptures to Schoy, but according to Dehio Steiermark and Horst Schweigert, they are works of Philipp Jakob Straub. This is confirmed by the signature Ph. J. Straub, which can be found on the artwork.1 Schweigert points out that the sculptures show the typical Straub-physiognomy: high forhead, open and full lips, bulging eyes as well as a drilled hairmass with curls hanging into the forehead.2 The bowl-shaped folds of the cloaks at one side of the body as well as the pronounced contrapost and the artful drapery that supports the dynamic way of depiction are also typical for Straub’s oeuvre.
Construction / Execution
The sculptures are made of carved sandstone and they are worked in three dimensions. Mary and Apostle John are standing on rectangular plinths beside Mary Magdalene, who is kneeling in front of the wooden cross on a rock formation. Additionally, the sculptures are situated on stone pedestals.
Components
- Sculpture
- Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
- Completed: 1720 – 1730
- Technique(s): stone carving
- Material(s): sandstone
Comment
Due to strong weathering, the surface is smoothened and lichen growth is visible.
The heights of the sculptures are: Mary Magdalene H = 145 cm; Mary H = 176 cm, John H = 180 cm.
Images
- The sculptural group of Mary, Mary Magdalene and Apostle John, Holy Mountain, Bärnbach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Eva Kullmer, 2007)
- The sculpture of Mary, Holy Mountain, Bärnbach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Eva Kullmer, 2007)
- The sculpture of Mary Magdalene, Holy Mountain, Bärnbach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Eva Kullmer, 2007)
- The sculpture of Apostle John, Holy Mountain, Bärnbach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Eva Kullmer, 2007)
Catalogue entry prepared by Christina Pichler and Dagmar Probst
Recommended citation: Christina Pichler and Dagmar Probst, The sculptures of Mary, Mary Magdalene and Apostle John on the Holy Mountain in Bärnbach, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 20/11/2025) URL
