Location
Austria, Styria, Graz
Parish church St John the Baptist (Grabenkirche) (Pfarrkirche „Hl Johannes der Täufer“ (Grabenkirche))
Geidorf
Original location:
Austria, Styria, Graz
Pilgrimage church Mariahilf (Wallfahrtskirche Mariahilf)
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Artwork
The left side altar at the triumphal arch of the parish church St John the Baptist (Grabenkirche) in Graz
Type
Side altar
Critical History
According to Rochus Kohlbach, the two side altars of Grabenkirche were originally located in the pilgrimage church Mariahilf. In 1786 the church’s priest contacted the prince-bishop konsistorium to announce that the Minorites of Mariahilf had been assigned to deliver two altars of their church to Grabenkirche. In 1792 they were purchased for 100 fl.1 Horst Schweigert dates the altar around the year 1770 and attributes it to Philipp Jakob Straub and his late style.2
The altars are corresponding to each other. The left one, whose altar piece depicts the miracle of a Minorite, shows two sculptures: On the left, there is St Florian who is pouring water of a small bucket (the obligatory burning house is missing). Compared to the sculptures on the second side altar on the right side of the triumphal arch, St Florian stands out in terms of the opulent drapery of his clothing. The same applies to the expressive gesture with the mannered posture of the fingers that is so typical for Straub’s oeuvre. On the right side there is the sculpture of a bishop with crozier and a closed book in his hands. It’s a very interesting detail, that the book is mainly covered by the cloak, which reveals a certain level of playfulness.
While the sculptures of the corresponding right side altar represent a good example for Straub’s late style (reduced movement within the statue’s clothing and body composition, expressive appearance and “cool” overall impression), the sculptures of the left side altar show characteristics of the artist’s “expressive” period.
Construction / Execution
The side-sculptures are made of carved wood and they are standing on polygonal, gilded plinths.
Components
- Carpentry
- Completed: ca. 1770
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Sculpture
- Author: (workshop) Philipp Jakob Straub
- Completed: ca. 1770
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Polychromy
- Completed: ca. 1770
- Material(s): gold leaf, red bole
Comment
The notable differences in the sculptures’ execution suggest the involvement of at least one more artist. A workshop work is conceivable.
Images
- The left side altar of the parish church St John the Baptist (Grabenkirche), Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
- St Florian, left side altar, parish church St John the Baptist (Grabenkirche), Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
- Bishop, left side altar, parish church St John the Baptist (Grabenkirche), Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
- Bishop, detail, parish church St John the Baptist (Grabenkirche), Graz (photo by Anja Lindbichler, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Eva Klein and Christina Pichler
Recommended citation: Eva Klein and Christina Pichler, The left side altar at the triumphal arch of the parish church St John the Baptist (Grabenkirche) in Graz, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 26/01/2026) URL
