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Wednesday 11 March 2020

1266) "Vocklabrucker Christus" - St. Giles Church, Vocklabruck, Austria: "Religious Art in Austria" Stamp Series: Date of Stamp issue: 06.03.2020:

1266) "Vocklabrucker Christus" - St. Giles Church, Vocklabruck, Austria: "Religious Art in Austria" Stamp Series: Date of Stamp issue: 06.03.2020:

The church on the bridge over the Vockla -

This engraved stamp from the series - "Religious Art in Austria" shows a work of art of particular art-historic importance: the "Vocklabrucker Christus", which is a very old depiction of Christ on a copper sheet which was found in the village church in Vocklabruck.

In 1134, a nobleman "Pilgrim of Weng" acquired the bridge over the river Vockla, which gave the Austrian district of Vocklabruck its name.

Close to the bridge, also known as the "Dorflbrucke"(meaning "little village bridge"), he built a hospice, the oldest in Upper Austria, and the so-called village church, which is dedicated to St. Giles.

Starting in 1688, under the direction of the architect Carlo Antonio Carlone, the church was renovated to become a baroque cross-in-square church, decorated with opulent frescoes by Carlos Antonio Bussi and altar paintings by Johann Karl von Reslfeld. The former hospice is now the baroque vicarage.

A sensational discovery:

In 1978, during renovation work, four gilt copper sheets measuring 23.0 cm x 7.0 cm each  and showing a total of ten chased and inscribed figures, were found in an old cupboard in the village church's sacristy.

These works of art showing a Langobardic influence, possibly book bindings or parts of a portable altar, which date from the period between the 8th and the 12th Century.

While scientific examination has not been able to pin-point several questions on these finds, but what is definitely not in dispute is the extraordinary art of historical value.

The Stamp:

The design on the stamp shows the most outstanding of the ten reliefs - a representation of the resurrected Christ which is known as the "Vocklabrucker Christus".

Behind the Christ figure, a cruciform nimbus without halo can be seen. The expressive, heart-shaped face is framed by long hair and a beard and the gaze is directly at the beholder. The right hand is raised in blessing, whilst the left hand is holding a ferula. A horizontal line represents the grave from which Christ has risen. 

The Vocklabrucker Christus is the upper of two figures on a vertical copper sheet. Below him can be seen the apostle John, who was especially close to Jesus.






Links to posts on Austrian Mint Coin issues on this blog:





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19) "Reaching For The Skies" Austria: First Coin in the series of four Silver Coins brought out by the Mint of Austria (Osterreich Mint): Coin Issue Date: 23.01.2019

20) The Wiener Musikverein, Vienna, Austria: 150th Anniversary of the opening of the legendary Musikverein Concert Hall in 1870: Two 5 Euro Commemorative New Year 2020 dated Coins being issued by the Austrian Mint - one in Silver and the other in Copper on 04.12.2019

21) 100 Years of the Salzburg Festival, Austria (1920-2020): Austrian Post has issued a postage stamp celebrating the milestone: Date of Stamp issue: 21.01.2020

22) Hedy Lemarr, Austria:" Austrian Inventions" Stamp Series: A postage stamp brought out by Austrian Post honours the contribution to the "Frequency Hopping Spread spectrum" which aided the Allies to steer torpedoes in World War II: Stamp issue date: 221.01.2020

 23) "Vocklabrucker Christus" - St. Giles Church, Vocklabruck, Austria: "Religious Art in Austria" Stamp Series: Date of Stamp issue: 06.03.2020

For posts on COTY (Coin of the Year) winners since 2015 in a competition held by Krause Publications of Germany, please visit the following links:

Links to posts on Federal Republic of Germany issues and other posts on this blog:

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