Ostrowski, Jan K.

ART-Dok


77 
he sculptured decoration of the parish church at Hodowica, whence the exhibited 
_L object originates, was carved about 1758, undoubtedly according to a general 
design by Bernard Meretyn, an outstanding exponent of rococo architecture in the 
Lvov milieu. All scholars credit Johann Georg Pinsel (and his workshop, including 
Maciej Polejowski, later the most notable representative of the younger generation of 
sculptors in the Lvov school) with the authorship of the sculptures, except for Hornung, 
who attributed most of the Hodowica sculptures to Antoni Osihski. 
The elaborate composition of the high altar consisted of a set of single figures and 
sculptured groups fixed against a background of illusionist architectural painting. 
Today only its sculpted elements exist, while the church, Meretyn's excellent work, is 
in a dilapidated state. 
The small Christ on the Cross was certainly carved at the same time as the remaining 
elements of the church decoration and was used as a processional cross. In 1946, during 
the deportation of the Polish population from the territories annexed by the Soviet 
Union, the cross was taken from Hodowica and for more than forty years was believed 
to be lost. It was not until 1990 that the crucifix was identified in the Corpus Christi 
Church on the occasion of the Wroclaw exhibition of Pinsel's sculptures from the Lvov 
collections. 
Among Pinsel's well-known works are three other figures of the Crucified Christ: 
from the church at Horodenka, from the high altar at Hodowica, and from the 
church of Saint Martin in Lvov. Each of them was composed individually, the third 
being distinguished by its expressive qualities. The small sculpture from Hodowica 
(perhaps the modello of a larger composition) is the most original achievement in the 
whole series. It combines virtuoso command of technique with the deeply moving 
dramatic expression and flamboyant stylization of the arrangement of Christ's body, 
bringing to mind a comparison with a rocaille ornament. 
CHRIST ON THE CROSS, c. 1758 
JOHANN GEORG PINSEL (D. 1761 OR 1762) 
POLYCHROMED WOOD 
40 CM (15 3 / 4 IN.) 
CHURCH OF CORPUS CHRISTI, WROCLAW 
LITERATURE 
Bochnak 1931, 54, 85, fig. 52; Hornung 1937; 
Minkowski 1937,102, figs. 78-79; Hornung 
1976; Woznicki 1990; Teatr i mistyka 1993, 
11.62-64; Ostrowski 1993, 31, 34, fig. 113. 
J K O 
243 
Originalveröffentlichung in: Ostrowski, Jan K. (Hrsg.): Land of the winged horsemen: art in Poland 1572-1764 [accompanies an exhibition organized and circulated by Art 
Services International, Alexandria, Va. ...]. New Haven; London 1999, S. 242-243


Jan Jerzy Pinsel, Christ on the Cross

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

ART-Dok