Artworks Catalogue

Location

Slovenia, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih goricah

Parish Church of Holly Trinity (Župnijska cerkev sv. Trojice)

Artwork

The sculpture of St Francis Xavier in the Parish Church of the Holly Trinity in Sveta Trojica

Type

Sculpture

Dimensions

Height: 180 cm, width: 100 cm, depth: 50 cm

Critical History

The sculpture of St Francis Xavier in the Parish Church of the Holly Trinity in Sveta Trojica was attributed to Joseph Straub by Sergej Vrišer.1 It’s present location on the altar is not original, since the altar was made much later (probably in the beginning of the 20^th Century).

The sculpture of saint is rather massive and has several characteristics of Joseph Straub’s personal style (the folds of the drapery, the fluttering effect, the big open eyes, curly hair and beard), but it is not as elegant as some other sculptures are.

Construction / Execution

The sculpture of Saint John of Nepomuk is made of wood. It is placed on the side altar by the wall. The backside of the sculpture is hollowed out with some rough carpentry tool. The sculpture is naturalistically painted with gilded drapery. The cross in the saint´s left hand is not original.

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): calcium carbonate, gold leaf, red bole, size

Polychromy

First repolychromy

Technique(s): oil, oil gilding

Material(s): metallic pigment, oil

Comment

The lime wood is infected with wood-boring insects. The original polychromy is covered with at least one layer of oil painting. The sculpture´s scarf and shoes are painted with silver bronze.

Images

1. The sculpture of St Francis Xavier in the Parish Church of the Holly Trinity in Sveta Trojica (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, photo by Valentin Benedik, 2018)
2. The sculpture of St Francis Xavier in the Parish Church of the Holly Trinity in Sveta Trojica, detail (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, photo by Valentin Benedik, 2018)
3. The sculpture of St Francis Xavier in the Parish Church of the Holly Trinity in Sveta Trojica, detail (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, photo by Valentin Benedik, 2018)
4. The sculpture of St Francis Xavier in the Parish Church of the Holly Trinity in Sveta Trojica, old photograph (source of the photo: Regional Archive Maribor)