Preliminary Notes on the “Stone from Belec”

Abstract

Fragment kamenog reljefa s djelomično očuvanim prikazom dvaju svetaca ispod blago zakrivljenog luka ukrašenog dentima, pronađen je 1997. g. prilikom restauratorskih radova u crkvi Sv. Marije Snježne u Belcu. Veličine je 45-47/24-26/18 cm, a nađen je u unutarnjoj drenaži barokne crkve (18. st.). Na reljefu prepoznajemo fragmentarne likove s aureolama u izrazito frontalnom stavu, a blago zakrivljeni luk možda ukazuje da se radi o fragmentu oveće lunete. Preliminarna analiza ovog rijetkog primjera figuralne srednjovjekovne skulpture ukazuje na romanički rad, a komparativni materijal na kasnije 12. ili rano 13. stoljeće (Székesféhervár, Somgyvár, Madocsa, Obuda u Ugarskoj; Arača u Vojvodini). U kontinentalnoj Hrvatskoj obrađeni fragment nema analogija, a posebice se ističe izvjesnom klasičnom vedrinom, koju zacijelo duguje nekom rimskom provincijskom modelu. Kamen je vjerojatno sekundarno iskorišten kao kvadar u nekom zidu (možda kod dogradnji gradu Belcu u 16. st.?), te zatim tercijarno u drenaži barokne crkve. Provenijencija, međutim, nije jasna. Ako se radilo o luneti dosta velikih razmjera, u ovom trenutku teško je pretpostaviti s kojeg bi poznatog lokaliteta takav kamen mogao potjecati. Možda će nam o tome više reći petrografska analiza koja još nije dovršena.A stone relief (45-47/24-26/18 cm) with a fragmentary representation of two saints under a gently curving arch decorated with indentations was found in the course of restoration works at the church of Our Lady of Snow (18th century) at Belec in 1997. The fragment was found within the church’s drainage system. We recognize the remains of two figures with haloes in frontal position; the gently curving arch above their heads may indicate that they were originally a part of a larger composition, possibly a lunette. A preliminary analysis of the style of this rare example of figured sculpture in continental Croatia indicates that the work was done in the Romanesque period, possibly toward the end of the 12th or at the beginning of the 13th century. Within continental Croatian material the piece is rather unique due to its almost classical repose (in spite of the awkwardness of style), inspired, not unlikely, by a Roman provincial model. Analogies, in particular for the indentations (not so much for the style), can be found in Hungary (Székesféhervár, Somgyvár, Madocsa, Obuda; Arača in Vojvodina). The stone was probably cut out of a larger piece and reused as an ashlar in a wall (the 16th century bastion added to the castle of Belec?), and then, later, again in the drainage system of a Baroque church. The original site of the stone is not clear. A pending petrographic analysis may hopefully provide some clues