Bürgerspital church Holy Spirit (Bürgerspitalskirche Hl Geist)
Gries
Artwork
Two sandstone sculptures of the high altar in the Bürgerspital church in Graz
Type
Sculptural group
Critical History
The sculptural decoration of the high altar, two side altars and the pulpit of Bürgerspital church can be regarded as Philipp Jakob Straub’s first extensive work and can be dated between 1734 and 1738.1 The draft was made by Schoy, who originally received the work order; Straub took it over after his death.2 For the high altar he created two sculptures, which are situated left and right of the high altarpiece between two columns. Left, there is St Elisabeth standing in classical contrapost with a highly curved body composition. She can be regarded as one of Straub’s best works and is already prefiguring the artist’s later sculptural type. This is characterised by a precise composition of body, clothing and physiognomy, the forward moving of the free leg as well as the expressive gesture.3 Her clothing is artfully draped around her shoulders and hip, on her head, there is a small crown. The typically bulging eyes as well as the mannered posture of the hands/fingers are characteristic for Straub. The same applies to the strong pronounced nose and forhead. Right, there is St Barbara standing less moved, with a communion cup in the right hand, while the left is propping a standing sword.
Construction / Execution
The sculptures are made of carved sandstone. Only the attributes of St Barbara (sword and cup) show a colouring. The statues stand on a rounded plinth.
Components
Sculpture
Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
Completed: 1734 – 1738
Technique(s): stone carving
Material(s): sandstone
Polychromy
Completed: 1734 – 1738
Material(s): gold leaf, red bole
Images
The high altar of Bürgerspital church in Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
St Elisabeth, high altar, Bürgerspital church, Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
Detail, St Elisabeth, high altar, Bürgerspital church, Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
St Barbara, high altar, Bürgerspital church, Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
Detail, St Barbara, high altar, Bürgerspital church, Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
Detail, St Barbara, high altar, Bürgerspital church, Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Christina Pichler, Margit Stadlober
Recommended citation: Christina Pichler, Margit Stadlober, Two sandstone sculptures of the high altar in the Bürgerspital church in Graz, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 27/01/2026) URL
Sources and Bibliography
Dehio. Die Kunstdenkmäler Österreichs. Graz, Wien, Verlag Anton Schroll & Co, 1979
Horst Schweigert, Philipp Jakob Straub (1706–1774). Ein Grazer Barockbildhauer, in: Studien zur Kunstgeschichte Steiermarks, Horst Schweigert (ed.), Kumberg, Sublilium Schaffer Verlag, 1992, 309–329
