Location
Austria, Styria, Graz
Parish Church of the Holy Blood (Stadtpfarrkirche Zum Heiligen Blut)
Innere Stadt
Artwork
Sculptures of St Leopold and St Aegydius on the Altar of St John of Nepomuk in the Chapel of the Aaint in the Parish Church of Graz
Type
Sculptural group
Critical History
The chapel of St John of Nepomuk was built by Joseph Hueber in 1741/1742.1 In 1944 it was hit by a bomb, but reconstruction was initiated immediately, so it could be re-consecrated in 1948. The altar of St John of Nepomuk was also destroyed in the attack, only the two side statues of St Leopold and St Aegydius remained almost intact.2 The angels of glory were re-carved by Hans Neuböck in 1948, who did this in such a masterful manner, that it is hardly possible to distinguish between the original and the copy.3
On the left, next to the high altar, is Margrave Leopold of Austria standing confidently, with a lance in his right hand. The other hand is raised and shows strongly spread fingers. At his feet is a putto holding a model of the church above its head. According to Rochus Kohlbach, Leopold is very striking in appearance: vigorous head, “Basedow-eyes” with bulging eyeballs and heavy lids, distinctive nose, broad and fleshy lips, massive curls (corrugated and sicking radially out from temples and cheeks).4 He is comparable to the sculpture of St John the Baptist in Maria Lebing (1749).
On the right side we see St Aegydius wearing a habit and holding an abbat's crozier in his left hand. Behind him is a hind lying on the ground. Aegydius is considered the patron of Graz. Both sculptures are characterised by their expressive depiction full of pathos.
Construction / Execution
The sculptures are made of carved wood.
Components
- Sculpture
- Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
- Completed: 1749 – 1750
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Polychromy
- Completed: 1749 – 1750
- Material(s): gold leaf, red bole
Comment
The fact that the chapel of St John of Nepomuk was built by Joseph Hueber, while the altar by Philipp Jakob Straub, proves once again the cooperation between the two artists.
Conservation-restoration
- 1948
Treatment Description
The sculptures of St Leopold and St Aegydius were restored in 1948. In 1977 a general restoration of the church’s interior took place.5
Images
- The altar of St John of Nepomuk in the Parish Church in Graz (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- The statue of St Leopold (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- The statue of St Aegydius (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
- St Leopold, detail (photo by Christina Pichler, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Christina Pichler and Dagmar Probst
Recommended citation: Christina Pichler and Dagmar Probst, Sculptures of St Leopold and St Aegydius on the Altar of St John of Nepomuk in the Chapel of the Aaint in the Parish Church of Graz, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 21/10/2025) URL
