Jn der Bildnuß der Angst unsers Herrn... : Indulgence Relief of Christ on the Mount of Olives as a legitimate Means of Salvation?
Abstract
The stone relief of the Mount of Olives, originally located at the northern entrance to the St.Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, is connected to the now no longer existing indulgence inscription. The inscription attests to the cult-like veneration of the image, which is also indicated by a number of fairly accurate replicas in Lower Austria. In addition to this fact, it placed the sculpture in a particular context, and - if we assume the credibility of the transcription - a rather conflicting historical and political context. The indulgence was to be confirmed by the Bishop of Passau, Georg von Hohenlohe in 1387. As far as the artistic form is concerned, we can agree with this dating, but the mention of Bishop Georg is questionable: he was elected in that year by the Passau chapter (with the support of the Austrian duke Albrecht III.), but because of disputes with the opposing candidate Ruprecht von Berg (supported by Wenceslaus IV., the Wittelsbach family and not least the townspeople of Passau), he did not receive episcopal consecration for several years. The legitimacy of the image's effect would therefore paradoxically be confirmed by an illegitimate church dignitary.
While in the case of the inscription, the multiple replication leads to some skepticism as to how far the text can be considered authentic, the copying of the painting shortly after its creation already makes its "authenticity" (in the sense of the ability to convey to the faithful the remission of the days spent in purgatory) rather confirms it.