Artworks Catalogue

Location

Austria, Styria, Bad Radkersburg

Church of Our Lady Mariahilf (Frauenkirche Mariahilf)

Artwork

Right Side Altar of the Church of Our Lady in Bad Radkersburg

Type

Side altar

Critical History

The only attested work by the artist Johann Georg Straub is the right side altar of the church of Our Lady Mariahilf in Bad Radkersburg, which was created around 1755.1

The two angel figures on the altar mensa are both dynamically represented and quite similar in body posture. They are standing in contrapost, with the free legs two-thirds naked and elaborated in great detailed. The robe has no special features, the drapery is kept simple. The neck of the right angel seems very elongated and displays an unnatural rotation. Both angels’ heads are inclined. The respective faces are characterized by a strikingly crafted double chin, a half-open mouth and an elongated nose. Deep and widely spaced, half-open eyes with line-shaped eyebrows are further characteristics of both faces. The angels are strongly gesticulating and hence appear lively.

Similarities between the sculptures of Johann Georg Straub and those of his famous brother Philipp Jakob Straub can certainly be recognized and are probably due to the fact that Johann Georg was a journeyman in the workshop of his brother Philipp Jakob in Graz in 1751.2

Components

Carpentry

Completed: ca. 1755

Technique(s): wood carving

Sculpture

Author: Johann Georg Straub (Wiesensteig 1721 – Bad Radkersburg 1773)

Completed: ca. 1755

Technique(s): wood carving

Polychromy

Completed: ca. 1755

Images

1. The right side altar of the Church of Our Lady in Bad Radkersburg (photo by Michael Preiß, 2019)
2. The left angel on the right side altar of the Church of Our Lady in Bad Radkersburg (photo by Michael Preiß, 2019)
3. The right angel on the right side altar of the Church of Our Lady in Bad Radkersburg (photo by Michael Preiß, 2019)