Location
Germany, Bavaria, Dießen
Former Monastarychurch Mariae Assumption (Ehem. Kloster- und heutige Pfarrkirche Mariae Himmelfahrt)
Catholic parish Assumption of Mary Dießen
Artwork
The tabernacle at the Rosary-Altar in the parish (former monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen
Type
Tabernacle
Inscriptions
- Coat of arms cartouche with 1740 and heraldic blazon of the judge of the lake Franz Ferdinand von Helmberg
Critical History
The monastery church of the Assumption of Mary (Augustiner Chorherren) was built by Johann Michael Fischer from 1732 to 1739.1 It is equipped with 11 altars: a huge main altar, 8 side altars and 2 altars in the entrance hall executed by different artists (Ehrgott Bendl, Joachim Dietrich, Egid Verhelst, Franz X. Schmädl). The tables of the sidealtars are all made in the same form and material (stone/marble). Only the upper structure has an more or less individual character. Always two parallel altars are created by the same artist. In Dießen we don´t have sketches of of the altar or pulpit of J. B. Straub. The construction was built by a joiner, the sculptures were carved by J. B. Straub or by his staff. In the list of the most important works by J. B. Straub that J. C. Lippert edited in 1772 Dießen has the number 53. 2 The prize for 2 sidealtars each for 1277 fl and 1 pulpit for 9000 fl is documented. #N-3#.
Straub also was responsible for the realisation of 2 tabernacles on the 2 sidealtars of Ehrgott Bernhard Bendl (1660-31.01.1738), the balustrade of the organ choir and the decoration for the organ. Straub worked for this church at least from 1738–1740.
The Rosary-Tabernacle is made by J. B. Straub for the altar which was created by Ehrgott Bernhard Bendl. The tabernacle is decorated with carved ornaments. 2 female sculptures on the left and the right represent love and prayer.
Construction / Execution
The tabernacle is made by wood on its surface metalleaf is applied in different gilding techniques dim and shiny.
Components
- Sculpture
- The tabernacle for the Rosary-Altar in the Parish (former Monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen
- Author: (?) Johann Baptist Straub
- Completed: 1738 – 1740
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Polychromy
- The tabernacle for the Rosary-Altar in the Parish (former Monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen
- Technique(s): oil gilding, water gilding
- Material(s): gold leaf
- Painting
- St Maria miraculous image of Wessobrunn
Comment
Since 1803 the monastery with the church belongs to the Bavarian state. The inside of the church was never completely repainted or restored. But there were several smaller works during 19th and 20th century. The marbeling of the altararchitecture seems to have its historical varnish one text mentions the restoration with schellack in 1936 its reference is unknown.4 The Stephansaltar and the pulpit will be examinated from October to November 2018.
Conservation-restoration
- 1930
Strategy: removing dirt
Treatment Description
Cleaning and removing dirt in the complete church by firm Wirsching, Dießen. May be the dirty parts of the monochrome white painting layer was overpainted.
- 1936
Treatment Description
Restoration of several side altars and pulpit by K. Eixenberger, Munich. One reference mentions a partial overpainting of the lead white painting layer of the sculptures and a partial overpainting of the varnish on the marbling.
- 1955
Strategy: removing dirt
Treatment Description
Cleaning and removing dirt inside partly overpainting of the monochrome white painting layers.
- 1979
Treatment Description
Great restoration of the complete building and its equipment under supervision of the spezialised authorities. The equipment was treated under conservative aspects.
- 2010
Treatment Description
The complete wooden equipment was treated with nitrogen against wooden pest.
Images
- The tabernacle at the Rosaryaltar in the parishchurch Assumption of Mary, Dießen, photo Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites Michael Forstner 08.2017
Catalogue entry prepared by Rupert Karbacher
Recommended citation: Rupert Karbacher, The tabernacle at the Rosary-Altar in the parish (former monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen , in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 25/10/2025) URL
