From Świdnica to Bratislava: The sculpture of Christ the Saviour from the collection of the Slovak National Gallery

Abstract

Among the works that stand out in the Baroque sculpture collection of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) is the figure of the Saviour by Georg Leonhard Weber of Świdnica. Surveys conducted in Slovak, Czech and Polish museums, combined with field studies, have made it possible to provide hitherto unexplored artistic context of the work. They have made it possible to trace the formal origins of the Bratislava Saviour as well as its later imitations. The sculpture is carved with virtuosic precision; it develops a concept derived from ancient art and is the finest example of Weber’s early oeuvre. Also, it constitutes a link between works made in his workshop over four decades. The present study demonstrates the advantages of an interdisciplinary and international analysis of museum collections. It highlights the significance of the sculpture in question to Central European cultural heritage, expanding the knowledge of museum collections in three different countries.