Location
Austria, Styria, St. Stefan im Rosental
behind house Mureckerstraße 18b (hinter Haus Mureckerstraße 18b)
Feldbach
Artwork
The sculpture of St Leonhard in the south of St. Stefan im Rosental
Type
Sculpture
Dimensions
Height: 183 cm, width: 111 cm, depth: 54 cm
Critical History
The pedestal shows a cartouche with an inscription that refers to the year 1730. Therefore, the statue of St Leonhard was one of Philipp Jakob Straub’s earliest works. The saint is standing in a slightly twisted manner with lowered head. At his feed, a calf and a lamb are lying. The right hand holds a crozier, the left one iron chains which refer to his liberation of hostages. It’s a very calm portraying of the saint, supported by gentle facial features.
Construction / Execution
The sculpture is made of carved sandstone. The backside is quite flat without many details. Crozier and nimbus are made of cast/hammered metal.
Components
- Sculpture
- Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
- Completed: 1730
- Technique(s): stone carving
- Material(s): sandstone
Comment
The pedestal shows an inscription that is illegible due to strong weathering. Nevertheless, the lower zone clearly refers to the year 1730. The size of the pedestal is H 95 cm, W 115 cm, D 86 cm
Conservation-restoration
- 1959
Treatment Description
In 1959 a restauration, financed by the breeder’s association, took place (a plaque on the pedestal refers to it).
The sandstone statue of St. Leonhard is exposed to the elements without any protection. Therefore the surface had suffered weather damage and was partially smoothened. The erection of a protective roof could prevent further abrasion. A gentle surface cleaning would be necessary as well.
Images
- The statue of St Leonhard, St Stefan im Rosental (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- St Leonhard, Detail, St Stefan im Rosental (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- Lamb, Detail, St Stefan im Rosental (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- Iron chains, Detail, St Stefan im Rosental (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- Inscription on pedestal, Detail, St Stefan im Rosental (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- Back of the statue, St Stefan im Rosental (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Eva Klein and Christina Pichler
Recommended citation: Eva Klein and Christina Pichler, The sculpture of St Leonhard in the south of St. Stefan im Rosental, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 25/01/2026) URL
