Bozzetto: St. Jerome

Creation

Bozzetto was part of the wooden model of the high altar of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Budaniw. Johann Pinsel designed it in 1761.

Description

Johann Pinsel has carved the bozzetto caringly, anatomically, vividly and expressively.

The head of St Jerome with his dishevelled beard is tilted towards his left shoulder, with his left hand, he holds an open book and with his right hand, he invites you to read. Johann Pinsel has carved the cloth linearly, it arcs around the body of the Saint. He carved the head, arms and legs in a physical, deep and knotty manner. The lion, made distinct and recognisable, lies still to the right.

Johann Pinsel carved the bozzetto of Saint Jerome as an organic and integral part of the layout of the high altar of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Budaniw. The author created the bozzetto respecting the anatomical proportions of the human body. It differs from the great work, in which the saint holds a book in his left hand. It is likely that the sculptor decided to change the original compositional intent during the realisation. A comparison of the dimensions of the bozzetto and the large sculpture indicates that the author executed it on a scale of 1:12.

The plinth of the bozzetto St Jerome has preserved holes from the mounting of the figure in the general architectural composition of the maquette of the high altar. Unfortunately, the location of the layout and bozzetti of the figures of St Augustine, St Gregory and St Ambrose is unknown.