Christ exchange in Mariae Himmelfahrt

Created: 06/18/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Elena Siegl

Figure replacement: the Gothic Christ (front) has been dismantled and placed on the pews, while in the background the restored figure can be seen to now take its place.

© Hans-Helmut Herold

The baroque Christ, which previously had its place on the outer facade of Mariae Himmelfahrt, has been restored and has moved into a new location: inside the town parish church.

Schongau – The restored figure of Christ, which found its place in the parish church Mariae Himmelfahrt last Tuesday, looks “foolishly good”.

Helmut Hunger, chairman of the support association for the parish church, is a friend of clear words.

But before you can see that he's right in his assessment, the character has to be revealed first.

For the transport by truck from his workshop in Altenstadt to the parish church, restorer Paul Ressl packed the valuable Christ well to protect it.

He and two helpers carefully carry the figure into the church, where they first place it on the pews, well padded with cushions, for further preparations.

Well packed, the figure of Christ was taken to the parish church.

© Hans-Helmut Herold

Looking back: When the Christ came to Paul Ressl's workshop almost a year and a half ago (we reported), he still "looked desolate", Hunger remembers.

Until then, the figure had its place outside, on the east facade of the parish church.

At the initiative of the chairman of the association, Thomas Hermann from the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments took a look at the crucifixion group and immediately recognized that it was a figure from the Baroque period.

Far too old, far too valuable, to continue to be exposed to the weather outside.

Instead, it was decided to restore the figure and bring it to the church, where it originally was.

This can also be seen in the historical photos that Paul Ressl used for his work.

The Christ, carved from linden wood, was painted with oil paint.

In the case of findings, an original gilding could also be uncovered.

A total of four versions were found, left for posterity and worked on, while one hundred percent followed the baroque findings.

"We could leave the oil paint on, it usually has to go," says Ressl happily.

The loin cloth and the aureole were provided with wafer-thin gold leaf (“If you roll it up, nothing is left at all”).

The shine achieved on the 200-year-old primer delights the restorer.

"You couldn't have expected that.

I'm very excited." Whether it's toned down a bit is open to consideration, but over time it will become a bit duller all by itself due to the dust.

Final touches: restorer Paul Ressl attaches the gilded rays to the head of the Christ figure.

© Hans-Helmut Herold

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The overall appearance should be relatively light and delicate in order to fit in between the figures of the apostles.

"Concise, but not too concise," summarizes Ressl.

It is important to him that everyone is happy.

According to the restorer, a “suffering Christ” was also desired.

However, he, Hunger and Hermann agreed that when it came to the design of bleeding wounds, it was better to proceed discreetly.

By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.

Even if the figure survived the time outside relatively well (Ressl: "All the fingers are still attached, they are usually the first to fall victim to adversity"), it was now important that the baroque Christ had a protected one gets position.

As planned, it has now taken the place of the Gothic figure previously in the church.

The latter was taken to the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ.

According to Hunger, a final place has not yet been determined.

Scaffolding was set up in Mariae Himmelfahrt for the dismantling and reassembling of the figures.

The figures were secured and each brought into the correct position with a block and tackle.

This required a great deal of sensitivity on the part of the helpers.

A wood sculptor from Oberammergau is currently making a new figure of Christ for the outer facade (we reported).

Appropriate for the Maria, which also belongs to the Crucifixion group.

Because, according to experts, the figure dates from the 1950s, i.e. is much younger than the Christ next to which it hung for the past few years, it is allowed to take its place outside again.

Before that, however, it will also be restored by Ressl.

According to Hunger, both repairs cost a total of around 10,000 euros.

These are lifted by the support association, the church does not pay for it.

That's why Hunger is now hoping for further donations.

The “sponsors of the parish church Mariae Himmelfahrt in Schongau” can make good use of

Namely to the account with the IBAN DE52 7035 1030 0000 4201 90;

BIC BYLADEM1WHW.

Or IBAN DE41 7016 9509 0000 1051 55;

BIC GENODEF1PEI.

You can find more current news from the region around Schongau at Merkur.de/Schongau.