Zprávy památkové péče 2016, 76(4):441-446
Restoration of the Vrtbov tombstones, or František Xaver Lederer in Vrchotovy Janovice
Over its many centuries of existence, the Vrchotovy Janovice Castle belonged for the longest period to the Votice branch of the Counts of Vrtba (1594-1807). Since the construction of the Franciscan monastery in Votice, its members could be buried in the family crypt in the local monastery church. The exception was Count Franz Ernst the younger (1716-1791) and his daughter Barbara, Schrenková of Notzing (1751-1790), who are buried in the old cemetery in Vrchotovy Janovice. The tombstones were restored in two phases in 2014-2015, already in very bad condition. During the restoration work, carried out by Jitka Malovaná and Kateřina Amortová, it became clear that the tombstone of Barbara of Vrtba is the work of the important Czech Classical period sculptor František Xaver Lederer (1758-1811).
Lederer was born and lived in Prague, where he had his workshop, but his work can also be found elsewhere. He was a peer of sculptors Václav Prachner, Ignác Michael Platzer, and Josef Malínský, with whom the authorship of tombstones is sometimes confused. He also did architectural sculptures and is the author of the famous fountain for Baron Wimmer on the Coal Market in Prague. The most complete and numerous group of works, however, are of sepulchral art, and with a few exceptions occur mainly within the 1790's.
The statuary in Vrchotovy Janovice extends the perception of the creation of this unique and talented sculptor in an interesting way. It is certainly the first tomb that he created and currently his oldest known signed work. This is perhaps the oldest Czech work depicting the survivor on a gravestone in contemporary clothing, while the children beside him are not allegorical figures but are the actual descendants of the deceased.
Keywords: tombstone; F. X. Lederer; restoration; Vrtba family; F. Schrenk; Vrchotovy Janovice; sepulchral monuments
Published: December 1, 2016 Show citation
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