Location
Austria, Styria, Weizberg
Parish Church of the Sorrowful Virgin Mother (Pfarrkirche zur Schmerzhaften Mutter Gottes)
Weizberg
Artwork
The Glory of St John of Nepomuk on the eastern exterior stair of the Basilica in Weizberg
Type
Sculpture
Dimensions
Height: 205 cm, width: 121 cm, depth: 92 cm
Inscriptions
- PH? ST. FEC. (at the rock under the feet of the putto)
- SANCTVS IOANNES A NEPOMUCK FORTIS HONORIS PATRONVS ET VINDEX (on the pedestal of the statue)
Critical History
There are two signed sculptures by Philipp Jakob Straub representing St John of Nepomuk (Weizberg and Graz Calvary).1 Although they were created almost at the same time, they are executed in a very different way. While the Graz one shows the dramatic “Fall from the Bridge in the River Vltava”, the Weizberg one portrays the standing saint in a very expressive, soulful posture with a gentle facial expression, supported by laterally folded hands. The entire body appears to be moved by deep emotions. The attributes (biretta and opened book) seem to be casually draped at his feet.
Construction / Execution
The sculpture is made of carved sandstone. The dimensions of the pediment are: H 117 cm, W 132 cm, D 102 cm.
Components
- Sculpture
- Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
- Completed: 1734
- Technique(s): stone carving
- Material(s): sandstone
Comment
The pedestal shows a chronogram that refers to the year 1734: “sanCtVs Ioannes a nepoMVCk fortIs honorIs patronVs et VIn DeX".2 (MDCCXVVVVIIII)
Conservation-restoration
- 2018
Treatment Description
The sandstone statue of St John of Nepomuk is exposed to the elements without any protection, therefore the surface has suffered severe weather damage and was partially smoothened. The erection of a protective roof could prevent further abrasion.
Images
- The statue of St John of Nepomuk at the exterior stair, Basilica Weizberg (photo by Nathalie Winter, 2018)
- St John of Nepomuk, Weizberg (photo by Nathalie Winter, 2018)
- St John of Nepomuk, Weizberg (photo by Nathalie Winter, 2018)
- St John of Nepomuk, Detail, Weizberg (photo by Nathalie Winter, 2018)
- St John of Nepomuk, Detail (photo by Nathalie Winter, 2018)
- Signature of Philipp Jakob Straub (photo by Nathalie Winter, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Eva Klein and Christina Pichler
Recommended citation: Eva Klein and Christina Pichler, The Glory of St John of Nepomuk on the eastern exterior stair of the Basilica in Weizberg, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 25/01/2026) URL
