Location
Austria, Styria, Graz
Alte Galerie, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Inv.-Nr. P 198, not exhibited
Artwork
The sculpture of Moses with the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Alte Galerie, Inv.-Nr. P 198
Type
Sculpture
Dimensions
Height: 93 cm, width: 57 cm, depth: 27 cm
Critical History
The sculpture was bought in 1914. Wilhelm Suida1 attributes it to Johann Veit Königer (Veit Kininger), Kurt Woisetschläger2 attributes it to Philipp Jakob Straub, circa 1750.
Moses shows the typical physiognomy and movement of the body and the clothes of the male sculptures from Philipp Jakob Straub. Here the coat makes the strongest movement in the wind on the right side of the body, giving counterbalance to the tablets of the ten commandments.
Construction / Execution
Fabrication (clamping) hole on top of the head visible, which was closed with a wooden dowel. The left arm and the tablets of the ten commandments are two separate pieces. Arm and hand is broken, fingers are missing. Woodworm infestation inactive.
Components
- Sculpture
- Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
- Completed: ca. 1750
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): limewood
- Polychromy
- Completed: ca. 1750
- Material(s): calcium carbonate, oil colour, proteinaceous binders
Conservation-restoration
- 2018
Materials: PVA adhesive
Treatment Description
The original polychromy is covered by a second overlaying gilding. This second ground layer holds a new gilding over red bolus.
Historical reparations: The figure in all was gilded new (around 1900). The new gilding on the garment was executed over red bolus and polished with achate. The new gilding layer is covering the original gilding. The original gilding is visible on some lacunae of the second gilding.
After the last restoration the arm was broken and glued quite inappropriate with Polyvinylacetate glue.
One graffiti (about 1900) on the cloth.
Images
- The sculpture of Moses with the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Alte Galerie (photo by Nicolas Lackner, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Graz, 2018)
- The sculpture of Moses with the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Alte Galerie (photo by Nicolas Lackner, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Graz, 2018)
Catalogue entry prepared by Paul-Bernhard Eipper and Christine Rabensteiner
Recommended citation: Paul-Bernhard Eipper and Christine Rabensteiner, The sculpture of Moses with the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Alte Galerie, Inv.-Nr. P 198, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 03/02/2026) URL
