Oberbayern Lot n° 32

Upper Bavaria, Maria Immaculata Wood, full-round carved, with remains of old setting and gilding. (1st half 18th century). Approx. 105.5 x 44 x 22.5 cm (with base). In 1703, the rhetoric professor Father Wolfgang Rinswerger, prefect at the prince-bishop's lyceum in Freising, had commissioned a Madonna figure from the Munich court sculptor Wolfgang Leuthner for the university auditorium of the Freising seminary. The figure of Mary, for which contemporaries soon came up with the name Freising Seminary Madonna, was to be the spiritual center of the Marian Congregation founded shortly before. The veneration of the Madonna quickly spread beyond the circle of the congregation. It developed into an image of grace, which was visited not only by the inhabitants of the town, but also by people from outside. In 1820, after the secularization, the original figure was transferred to the Wieskirche in Freising, since 1848 it has been lost. Several copperplate engravings and an anonymous painting in the Freising Diocesan Museum, dated around 1735, provide information about its appearance. In her typical depiction as Maria Immaculata, she stands on a globe, with one foot on a crescent moon, trampling a snake as a symbol of original sin; with arms outstretched without a child, holding the lily scepter in one hand, a wreath of flowers on her head. Our sculpture could be an early copy of the Freising Seminary Madonna. The overall appearance as well as individual forms, such as the agraffe at the cloak closure, the oval medallion with the depiction of the Holy Spirit dove and the lace cuffs on the sleeves, have been adopted down to the last detail. The depiction of Mary Immaculata as the Bride of the Holy Spirit was extremely popular in the 18th century. Carved figures were also used in processions. - Throughout with wormholes and with paint chips. Verso in the base a crack, also on the back of the mantle. Verso with hanging device. Provenance: private property, southern Germany. Taxation: Differentially taxed (VAT: Margin Scheme).