Original scientific paper
The altar of the Mother of Mercy in Gračišće
Vlasta Zajec
; Institut za povijest umjetnosti Zagreb
Abstract
The article discusses the architectural, ornamental, polichromatic and sculptural characteristics of the altar of the Mother of Mercy in Gračišće and evaluates its place among the similar monuments in Istria. Hitherto the altar was dated in the mid-17th century.
ln the course of recent reconstruction, it was discovered that the year 1633 is inscribed on its predella. This is a valuable discovery, this being the earliest known insribed date on a 17th century wooden altar in Istria. In the central niche of the lower part of the altar stands a relief figure of Madonna della Misericordia. A number of similarities has been detected between the clothing of the faithful gathered under Madonna's cloak and the Istrian costume of the 17th century which indicates that the sculptor showed the contemporary clothes of Gračišće of the time. This supports an earlier theory by Radovan Ivančević that both the altar and the sculpture were made in Gračišće itself.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
166665
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2001.
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