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 Holy Cross-Altar in the parish (former monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen
Type
Tabernacle
Inscriptions
- Coat of arms cartouche with 1747 and heraldic blazon of the electors physician in ordinary Abraham Praunschober
Critical History
The monastery church Assumption of Mary (Augustiner Chorherren) was built by Johann Michael Fischer from 1732–1739.1 It is equipped with 11 altars: a huge main altar, 8 side altars and 2 altars in the entrance hall executed by different artists. The tables of the side altars 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 informations about sketches of the form of the altar, pulpit (drawing existed but is lost) etc. In other cases we know that there was a sketch by J. B. Straub (Fürstenzell). 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 abbot Herkulan Karg ordered from Johann Baptist Straub (1704–1784) 2 sidealtars (each for 1277 fl), 1 pulpit (9000 fl), 2 tabernacles, the balustrade of the organchoir and the decoration for the organ.3 Straub for this church at least from 1738-40.
The Holy-Cross-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 faith and hope.
Construction / Execution
All surfaces are decorated with metalleaf in some parts dim the rest shiny.
Components
- Carpentry
- The tabernacle for the Holy Cross-Altar in the Parish (former Monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen
- Author: Johann Baptist Straub (Wiesensteig ca. 1704 – Munich 1784)
- Completed: 1738 – 1740
- Technique(s): oil gilding, sawing, water gilding, wood carving
- Sculpture
- The tabernacle for the Holy Cross-Altar in the Parish (former Monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen
- Author: Johann Baptist Straub (Wiesensteig ca. 1704 – Munich 1784)
- Completed: 1738 – 1740
- Technique(s): oil gilding, water gilding, wood carving
- Polychromy
- The tabernacle for the Holy Cross-Altar in the Parish (former Monastery) church Assumption of Mary, Dießen
- Completed: 1738 – 1740
- Technique(s): oil gilding, water gilding
- Material(s): gold leaf
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
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 of the Holy-Crossaltar 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 Holy Cross-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
