Location
Croatia, Krapina-Zagorje County, Taborsko
Parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Župna crkva Uznesenja Marijina )
Artwork
Side Altar of Saint Joseph in the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Taborsko
Type
Side altar
Dimensions
Height: 538 cm, width: 416 cm, depth: 62 cm
Inscriptions
- A. 1745 per /Jos.Jagušić/ A.1869 aerc pa/rochi populi et ec/clesiae factum (in the cartouche above the altar painting, in the layer of repolychromy)
Critical History
The records of canonical visitations mentioned in 1742 that the altar of Saint Joseph would soon be erected.1 According to the text in the cartouche above the altar painting (Ins. 1), it was completed in 1745 and donated by Josip Jagušić, the secretary of the Zagreb bishop Juraj Branjug.2 Doris Baričević attributed the altar and its sculptures to Josef Straub.3 The iconographic programme (Saint Anna, Saint Zachary, Saint Joachim, Saint Elizabeth) is the identical to the high altar in Studenci (whose sculptures are now preserved in Maribor Regional Museum) and in Slovenska Bistrica, both attributed to Josef Straub. The altar was renovated in 1869 (Ins. 1).
Construction / Execution
The altar is situated in the left side chapel. The sculptures of Saint Zachary and Saint Joachim flank the altar painting, whereas the sculptures of Saint Anna and Saint Elizabeth stand above the side openings. Four massive volutes with figures of sitting angels and putti build the attic with a central figure of the Dove of the Holy Spirit in glory of clouds and rays.
Components
- Carpentry
- Author: Joseph Straub (Wiesensteig 1712 – Maribor 1756)
- Completed: 1742 – 1745
- Patron(s): Josip Jagušić, bishop's secretary
- Technique(s): sawing, wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Sculpture
- Author: Joseph Straub (Wiesensteig 1712 – Maribor 1756)
- Completed: 1742 – 1745
- Patron(s): Josip Jagušić, bishop's secretary
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Painting
- Saint Joseph with Child Jesus
- Author: Valentin Metzinger (Saint-Avold 1699 – Ljubljana 1759)
- Completed: 1745 –
- Patron(s): Josip Jagušić, bishop's secretary
- Technique(s): oil on canvas
- Polychromy
- Completed: 1745
- Patron(s): Josip Jagušić, bishop's secretary
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Polychromy
- First repolychromy
- Completed: 1869
- Patron(s): multiple, parishioners; owner, parish
- Technique(s): oil gilding
- Material(s): gold
Conservation-restoration
- 2009
Strategy: preserving one or several repolychromies, preserving patina, preserving varnish, removing dirt
Approach to the presentation of losses
Preserving lacunae: total
Treatment Description
In 2009 the Croatian Conservation Institute carried out on-site conservation works on the entire church equipment, including the side altar of Saint Joseph. The works were conducted by Marijana Galović.4
- 2011
Approach to the presentation of losses
Reintegration of lacunae – mimetic: total
Reconstruction of losses: total
Treatment Description
The painting of Saint Joseph with Child Jesus was completely restored by Vesna Sobota in 2011.
Images
- Taborsko, side altar of Saint Joseph (Croatian Conservation Institute Photo Archive, photo by Goran Tomljenović, 2018)
- Taborsko, side altar of Saint Joseph, detail (Croatian Conservation Institute Photo Archive, photo by Goran Tomljenović, 2018)
- Saint Anna on the side altar of Saint Joseph in Taborsko (Photo by: Croatian Conservation Institute, 2009)
- Saint Zachary on the side altar of Saint Joseph in Taborsko (Photo by: Croatian Conservation Institute, 2009)
- Sculpture of Saint Joachim (Photo by Croatian Conservation Institute)
- Sculpture of Saint Elizabeth (Photo by Croatian Conservation Institute)
Catalogue entry prepared by Martina Ožanić and Ksenija Škarić
Recommended citation: Martina Ožanić and Ksenija Škarić, Side Altar of Saint Joseph in the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Taborsko, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 25/01/2026) URL
