Plague picture
The plague picture, also called "God's plague picture", is located on the southern outer wall of Graz Cathedral . The fresco , created in 1485, is believed to be by Thomas von Villach . It is considered to be one of the most historically and artistically important frescoes in Styria .
Reasons for the foundation
The plague picture is one of the few remaining frescoes on Graz Cathedral. According to an inscription, the fresco was donated by the citizens of Graz in 1480 when the city was in dire straits: the city was also ravaged by the Turks , the plague and a plague of locusts. The fresco is in a 'climate box' to keep it from decaying. There are some markings, including by Heinrich Schwach , on which the inscriptions that are no longer legible can be recognized.
Structure and description
At the top, the Holy Trinity is shown as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in three identical persons. Three bundled rays emanate from the heart of God the Father, which flow into the pictures at the lower edge. A banner explains:
This inscription refers to the Old Testament , in which God threatens the unfaithful with the plagues of sword, plague and hunger. Another bundle of lightning , emanating from the right hand of God, is intercepted by a cloth that Mary and John the Baptist hold in their hands. There are also other banners that ask for mercy and mercy.
Behind John the Baptist are the saints of the old covenant , behind Mary those of the new covenant . Underneath, a wavy band with angels separates the heavenly sphere from the earthly one. The angels are represented in the hierarchy common in the Middle Ages: at the bottom, closest to people, the simple angels; above it are archangels and above, God floating around, cherubim and seraphim . In the middle of the earthly area is the Pope, next to him Saint Francis and Saint Dominic , the founders of the only two orders represented in Graz at this time, the Franciscans and the Dominicans (see also Franciscan Monastery Graz ). Laterally, members of the ecclesiastical and secular class can be seen, again strictly separated according to hierarchies. Finally, under the banner, invading Turks, swarms of locusts and plague sufferers can be seen to represent the three plagues.
From the accompanying banners it becomes clear that the population of Graz saw the three plagues as God's punishment, but hoped for heavenly intercession and grace. The strictly hierarchical arrangement of both the celestial and the earth spheres is also remarkable. The earthly hierarchy therefore corresponds to a heavenly one and is therefore to be understood as an order willed by God; the picture can therefore also be read politically.
Attribution and background
The attribution of the work to Thomas von Villach is not undisputed. A sign on the breastplate of the third angel from the left may represent a master's mark by Thomas. The fresco is also of historical interest: In the background of the image of the locust plague, a building can be seen that may be the Romanesque basilica of St. Aegidius, i.e. the previous building of today's (Gothic) Graz Cathedral. The background of the picture of the Turkish plague is considered to be the oldest surviving view of the city of Graz .
Preservation
To protect against environmental influences, the fresco is now behind a glass protection. Since the picture is facing south, it is very difficult to see anything, especially during the day because of reflections; Taking pictures is almost impossible.
literature
- Alois Kölbl, Wilraud Resch: Paths to God. The churches and synagogue of Graz. Styria Verlag, Graz et al. 2004, ISBN 3-222-13105-8 , pp. 76-77.
- Horst Schweigert: Graz. = Dehio Handbook Graz. = Dehio Graz. Verlag Anton Schroll & Co., Vienna 1979, ISBN 3-7031-0475-9 , p. 15 ( Die Kunstdenkmäler Österreichs ).
Coordinates: 47 ° 4 ′ 18.5 ″ N , 15 ° 26 ′ 31.4 ″ E