Location
Austria, Styria, Birkfeld
Parish Church St Peter and Paul (Pfarrkirche Hl Petrus und Paulus)
Artwork
The sculptural group of the Heavenly Music on the organ of the Parish church of Birkfeld
Type
Sculptural group
Critical History
According to documentary entrance, the sculptures of the organ were made in 1765 by Philipp Jakob Straub.1 They appear very vivacious and dynamic and represent the heavenly music. They are arranged according to the triangular composition: In the lower area, there are two standing angels with a harp and a lute flanking the organ. Above, there are two putti with a hymnbook and cymbals and two sitting angels with a trumpet and timpani. Next higher we see a putto with a two-part elongated instrument and one with a violin, followed by the last two musicians, a putto with a clarinet and one with a flute. On top, there a two putti apparently falling downwards. It is evident, that the sculptures on the organ show significant differences in their quality.
Construction / Execution
The sculptures are made of carved wood.
Components
- Sculpture
- Author: Philipp Jakob Straub (Wiesensteig 1706 – Graz 1774)
- Completed: 1765
- Technique(s): wood carving
- Material(s): wood
- Polychromy
- Sculptural decoration
- Completed: 1765
- Material(s): gold leaf, red bole
Comment
The altar of St Cross in Varaždin Cathedral shows sculptures of angels in form and physiognomy similar to those on the Rosary altar in the parish church of Birkfeld, but in postures found on the organ.
Images
- The organ of the parish church in Birkfeld (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Christina Pichler, 2015)
- Angel with lute (right), organ, Birkfeld (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Christina Pichler, 2015)
- Putto with cymbals (right), organ, Birkfeld (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Christina Pichler, 2015)
- Sitting angel with timpani (right), organ, Birkfeld (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Christina Pichler, 2015)
- Putto with clarinet (left), organ, Birkfeld (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Christina Pichler, 2015)
- Two putti (on top), organ, Birkfeld (photo by Diocesan Museum Graz, Christina Pichler, 2015)
Catalogue entry prepared by Eva Klein and Christina Pichler
Recommended citation: Eva Klein and Christina Pichler, The sculptural group of the Heavenly Music on the organ of the Parish church of Birkfeld, in: TrArS – Tracing the Art of the Straub Family, 2018, (accessed 03/02/2026) URL
