After the completion of the new pilgrimage church in Dobrova (1711–1716), the confraternity of the Assumption of the Immaculate Virgin that in the old church had held an own side altar obtained the seat on the high altar. Plans for the altar had already been made before the building was constructed but were only carried out between 1726 and 1733. The altar, composed of a marble pedestal made in 1726 by Lucas Mislej and four big statues of the Doctors of the Church made by the sculptor Heinrich Michael Löhr (finished 1728) was a half-size copy of Cathedra Petri, the altar made 1657–1666 by Gianlorenzo Bernini for the apse of St Peter’s in Rome. The Dobrova altar, made mainly after the illustration in Filippo Bonanni’s book Numismata Summorum Pontificum (1696), was the most ambitious and exceptional Baroque altar in Carniola and probably the only copy of Bernini’s masterpiece in Europe.
COBISS.SI-ID: 39559981
In Slovenian Styria, pre-Josephian confraternities represented an important means through which believers became involved in religious, charitable, economic, and artistic affairs of the time. They were religious institutions of the then civil society. For the most part, such confraternities were not exclusive in regard to social strata and included members of both genders coming from all layers of society. Spiritually, they shaped an individual, provided him with spiritual support in his everyday life, and ensured his blissful eternity. They also contributed to the spiritual pulse of the parishes. Their purpose, goals, and activities were set down in statutes, regulations, and various papal documents. Although predominantly focused on spirituality, their efforts in matters of economy were still considerable. In fact, confraternities were a mix of material and spiritual, clever managing of business providing them with ž enough financial means for their spiritual and charitable missions.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1785973
The article discusses depictions of the Virgin of Mercy in Slovenia from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period in a wider context, specifically from the perspective of the religious confraternities, which were the important commissioners of artworks with this iconographic subject. The majority of these medieval monuments are in frecoe form. While surviving sculptures with this subject are rare, they show a definite link to confraternities In some cases they were also related to the pilgrim cults, which influenced the way the subject was depicted. The most oustanding examples of this subject in Slovenia are the Ptujska Gora relief of the Virgin of Mercy, which represented an important influence also for Baroque painters, and a painting by Valentin Metzinger in Planinska gora. The commissions ceased as with the surpression of confraternities under Emperor Joseph II.; however, they appeared again during the 19th century Catholic revival. Besides Mary, several saints appear in Slovenian art in the role of protectors with the cloak, including St Ursula, St Joseph, St Nicholas, St Blasius and St Anthony of Padua.
COBISS.SI-ID: 39560237