Artworks Catalogue

Location

Austria, Styria, Semriach

Parish Church St Aegydius (Pfarrkirche Hl Ägydius)

Artwork

The sculptures of Dismas and St John of Nepomuk in the southern and northern side aisle of the parish church in Semriach

Type

Sculptural group

Critical History

The sculptures of Dismas and St John of Nepomuk can be seen as equivalent to each other (both stand for good confession). The former is situated on a carved console on the eastern polygonal pillar of the northern side aisle, where he is kneeling on a rock formation. His naked upper body is leant backwards, his face directed heavenward and his hands are folded in front of his chest. His coat is draped around his lower body. According to Rochus Kohlbach, the sculpture of Dismas is an enlarged and better version of that one of St Ruprecht/Raab, which may be created by a journeyman, not by the master himself.1 Horst Schweigert attributes the sculpture to Philipp Jakob Straub because of the expressive physiognomy and the realism in the body composition, which is comparable to the high relief with the Dead Christ on the antependium of the Crucifixion altar of Graz Cathedral (1745) and to the depiction of Christ of the flagellation group of the Sacred Mountain (Bärnbach). The similarity to the head-type of the captor of the Nepomuk-group of Graz Calvary indicates the period 1735 – 1740 as time of origin.2

The sculpture of St John of Nepomuk is standing on a carved console on the easternmost pillar of the southern side aisle. Although the depiction of the clouds is missing, it can be attributed to the type “Glory of St John of Nepomuk”.3 The saint is holding a palm leaf of martyrdom in his right hand, which is humbly placed in front of the chest, while the left one is held aside in an expressive gesture. According to Horst Schweigert, the sculpture is comparable to St John of Nepomuk of Weizberg (1734) and of Calvary Graz (1734).4

Construction / Execution

The sculptures are made of carved wood and worked in three dimensions.

Components

Sculpture

Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)

Completed: 1735 – 1740

Technique(s): wood carving

Material(s): wood

Polychromy

Completed: 1735 – 1740

Material(s): gold leaf, red bole

Comment

The height of St John of Nepomuk is 134 cm (console: H 75 cm), the height of Dismas is 128 cm (console: H 70 cm).

Images

1. The sculpture of Dismas, parish church of Semriach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Karin Weninger, 2006)
2. Dismas, detail, parish church, Semriach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Karin Weninger, 2006)
3. The sculpture of St John of Nepomuk, parish church, Semriach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Karin Weninger, 2006)
4. St John of Nepomuk, detail, parish church, Semriach (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Karin Weninger, 2006)