Artworks Catalogue

Location

Slovenia, Sveta Ema

Artwork

The tabernacle in the Parish Church of St Hemma in Sveta Ema

Type

Tabernacle

Dimensions

Height: 240 cm, width: 228 cm, depth: 70 cm

Critical History

The tabernacle in the Parish Church of St Hemma in Sveta Ema was attributed to Joseph Straub by Sergej Vrišer.1 The architecture of the tabernacle is rather massive and has two volutes with kneeling angels on the sides. The columns in the lower part are carrying the roof with volutes, where the sculpture of God the Father is placed. Together with the two putti and angel heads, we can also attribute to Joseph Straub the two reliefs from the tabernacle: the relief with the depiction of Crucifixion and the relief with the Supper at Emmaus. The sculptures of angels can be compared with the angles from the tabernacle from Studenci and with the tabernacle in Selnica ob Dravi (not only the sculptures, but also the architecture).

We have to point out that the drapery of the left angels is carved in style, which can not be found in the opus of Joseph Straub. It seems that it was changed.

Construction / Execution

The tabernacle is made of wood. Its first polychromy of the architecture is imitating marble. The ornaments, angel wings and drapery are (in the original appearance) imitating gold.

Components

Sculpture

Sculpture

Author: Joseph Straub (Wiesensteig 1712 – Maribor 1756)

Technique(s): wood carving

Material(s): limewood

Polychromy

Polychromy

Technique(s): oil, water gilding

Material(s): gold leaf, methyl cellulose, red bole

Polychromy

Repolychromy

Technique(s): oil, oil gilding

Material(s): metal leaf, metallic pigment

Comment

The lime wood is infected with wood-boring insects. There are some finger losses on angel´s hands. The ground is cracking, lifting and falling off.

There are at least two repolychromies made by covering damaged gilded parts of drapery with thick layer of oil paint and metal leaves. The first polychromy of the architecture is imitating marble. The ornaments, angel wings and drapery are (in the original appearance) imitating gold.

The skin parts of sculptures and architecture are repolychromed with oil paint.

Images

1. The tabernacle in the Parish Church of St Hemma in Sveta Ema (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, photo by Valentin Benedik, 2018)
2. The sculpture of the left angel from the tabernacle in Sveta Ema (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, photo by Valentin Benedik, 2018)
3. The sculpture of the right angel from the tabernacle in Sveta Ema (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, photo by Valentin Benedik, 2018)