Location
Germany, Bavaria, Tegernsee
Parish Church of St Quirinus (Ehem. Kloster- und heutige Pfarrkirche St. Quirin)
Catholic Parish of St Quirinus
Artwork
The Sculptures on the Side Altar of St Quirinus in the Parish Church of St Quirinus in Tegernsee
Type
Sculpture
Inscriptions
- S QUIRINO REGI& MART. Anno M.DCCXLVIII. (cartouche above relic, higher level)
- S QVIRINO M (cartouche above relic)
Critical History
In the list of J. C. Lippert the five sculptures are registered under the numbers 50 and 51.1 St Agatha, St Florian, St Rochus, St Sebastian and a bust of St Benedict, are part of the 2 sidealtars dedicated St Benedict and St Quirinus. Two small sculptures representing St Cosmas and St Damian standing in two niches of the predella of the altar dedicated St Benedict are not attributed to any sculptor. Both altars were erected in 1748 in marble combined with stucco. The architecture is partially decorated with metal ornaments in silver and gold. The tabernacles are made in gilded copper. The stucco on the altar and the reliefs on the walls and the ceiling were made by Johann Georg Üblher (1703–1763).2 Concerning the date of origin of the sculptures, Norbert Lieb supposes a connection with the 1000 years anniversary of the monastery on 7 July 1753.3 Roland Götz says that the anniversary was held in 1746.4
Construction / Execution
The two chapels are an excellent work of art which integrate the altars made in marble and stucco marble with the decoration of the walls and the ceiling. The light from outside was originally changed artificially by a yellow glass. The top of the skull of St Quirinus a richly decorated relic with silver ornaments forms the centre of the altar. There are putti made in white stucco imitating white marble flying above. The two sculptures representing St Rochus and St Sebastian are made in wood. St Rochus H 161cm W 68.5 cm D 48.5 cm; St Sebastian H 162 cm W 66cm D 45.5 cm. The painting layer is a polished white combined with water-gilded parts and again imitates marble or alabaster.
Components
- Masonry
- Author: Johann Georg Üblher
- Completed: 1746 – 1748
- Technique(s): stonework, stucco lustro
- Sculpture
- Author: Johann Georg Üblher
- Completed: 1746 – 1748
- Technique(s): stucco
- Sculpture
- Author: Johann Baptist Straub (Wiesensteig ca. 1704 – Munich 1784)
- Completed: 1746 – 1748
- Technique(s): polished white, water gilding, wood carving
- Polychromy
- Completed: 1746 – 1748
- Technique(s): polished white, water gilding
- Polychromy
- First repolychromy
- Completed: 1824 – 1825
- Technique(s): oil, oil gilding
- Polychromy
- Second repolychromy
- Completed: 1902
- Technique(s): polished white, water gilding
- Polychromy
- Third repolychromy
- Completed: 1946
- Polychromy
- Forth repolychromy
- Completed: 1998 – 2008
- Technique(s): polished white, water gilding
- Material(s): Bologna chalk, bone black, Champagne chalk, gold leaf, gold powder, gouache, green earth, lead white, rabbit-skin glue, red bole, sturgeon glue, watercolours, yellow bole, yellow ochre
Comment
In 1879 the four sculptures were removed from the altars. In 1902 they were again discovered restored and placed on consoles apart from the altars. In 1946 they were overpainted and came back to the altars but not in the original positions. In the context of a complete restoration of the church (1998–2004), the sculptures were examined in the workskop of Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites in 1998 and restored in 2004. In 2008 after the last restoration the sculptures came back into their original position proved by archival documents. Only the wooden bust of St Benedict has been conserved. The bust is also made in wood and decorated with silver-leaf, gold-leaf and red glaze. From archival documents we know that there was a second bust made in 1765 by a silver-smith called Joseph Reichenzinn. The silver-bust was only presented on the occasion of high church festivals. In 1801 the silver bust was requisitioned by the Bavarian State and melted.
Conservation-restoration
- 1824
Approach to the presentation of losses
Repolychroming: total
Treatment Description
In 1820 the complete church was renovated under the direction of the architect Georg V. Dillis. The complete sculptural equipment received a new white painting layer in oil with oil gilding. in 1824/25.
- 1902
Strategy: removing one or several historic repolychromies
Approach to the presentation of losses
Repolychroming: total
Treatment Description
In 1902 the four sculptures were found on the loft of the church. They were restored by the Mayersche Hofkunstanstalt in Munich. The original white painting layer was almost completely removed and they were overpainted in a polished white combined with a water gilding.
- 1946
Approach to the presentation of losses
Repolychroming: total
Treatment Description
The four sculptures received a new "white lacquer" (modern binding medium).
- 1998
Strategy: removing one or several historic repolychromies
Approach to the presentation of losses
Reconstruction of losses: total
Treatment Description
The paint layers of 1902 and 1946 were completely removed. Remaining parts of the original polished lead white and water gilding were conserved and integrated. The huge losses were reconstructed using historical recipes. A tiny pieces of St Rochus were carved-off and used for testing the polychromy in situ.
Images
- The side altar of St Quirinus in the Parish Church of St Quirinus, Tegernsee (Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites, photo by Michael Forstner, 2017)
- The sculpture of St Sebastian on the altar of St Quirinus in the Parish Church of St Quirinus, Tegernsee (Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites, photo by Michael Forstner, 2017)
- The sculpture of St Rochus on the altar of St Quirinus in the Parish Church of St Quirinus, Tegernsee (Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites, photo by Michael Forstner, 2017)
Catalogue entry prepared by Rupert Karbacher
Recommended citation: Rupert Karbacher, The Sculptures on the Side Altar of St Quirinus in the Parish Church of St Quirinus in Tegernsee, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 09/12/2024) URL
