Location
Austria, Styria, Graz
Cathedral St Aegydius (Dom Hl Ägydius)
Innere Stadt
Artwork
The sculptures of St John of Nepomuk and Judas Thaddeus on the triumphal arch in the Cathedral of Graz
Type
Sculptural group
Critical History
The sculptures of St John of Nepomuk and Judas Thaddeus were created by Philipp Jakob Straub in 1738.1 Both are situated on a carved, late-baroque console on the left and right side of the triumphal arch, where they are standing in classical contrapost. The body of St John of Nepomuk (left) is slightly twisted, the outwards turned right foot as well as the refined drapery of his rochet supports this movement. In his left hand he holds a crucifix, in his right one a biretta. His face with big eyes shows a gentle expression and he is characterised by his expressive-pathetic depiction (cf St Leopold and St Aegydius, parish church of the Holy Blood, Graz). The same applies to his counterpart, Judas Thaddeus (right), who is shown with a billet and a picture of Christ which he is holding up with both hands. His coat appears very voluminous and seems to be moved by a breeze. Almost at the same time, Philipp Jakob Straub created the sculptures of St John of Nepomuk and Dismas (Semriach). The former can be seen as real copy of the Nepomuk of Graz Cathedral concerning posture and drapery.
The sculptures show the typical “Straub-physiognomy” (high forehead, open and full lips, bulging eyes and asymmetrical, drilled hair styling with curls covering parts of the forehead).2
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: 1738
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Polychromy
- Completed: 1738
- Material(s): gold leaf, red bole
Images
- The sculpture of St John of Nepomuk, Cathedral Graz (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, 2014)
- St John of Nepomuk, Cathedral Graz (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, 2014)
- The sculpture of Judas Thaddeus, Cathedral Graz (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, 2014)
- Judas Thaddeus, Cathedral Graz (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, 2014)
Catalogue entry prepared by Christina Pichler, Dagmar Probst
Recommended citation: Christina Pichler, Dagmar Probst, The sculptures of St John of Nepomuk and Judas Thaddeus on the triumphal arch in the Cathedral of Graz, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 20/11/2025) URL
