Master Paul of Levoča

LACKO, Miroslav. Význam Levoče ako kapitálového a obchodného centra pre banské podnikanie v spišsko-gemerskej banskej oblasti v 15. a 16. storočí [The Importance of Levoča as Capital and Trade Centre for Mining Enterprise in the Spiš and Gemer Mining Region of the 15th and 16th Century]. In Montánna história 8-9 (2015-2016), pp. 382-395.
ISBN 978-80-7464-938-7. ISSN 1338-5984.

LACKO, Miroslav. Majster Pavol a Levoča ako kapitálové a obchodné centrum v 15. a 16. storočí [Abstract in German: Meister Paul und Leutschau als Kapital- und Handelszentrum im 15. und 16. Jahrhundert]. In: NOVOTNÁ, Mária et al. Majster Pavol z Levoče a jeho doba. Levoča : Slovenské národné múzeum – Spišské múzeum v Levoči, 2018, pp. 7 – 30. ISBN 978-80-8060-438-7.

The chief personality of Slovakia’s Late Gothic wooden sculpture, Paul of Levoča, has been researched for many decades by art historians. At the very end of his life, Anton Cyril Glatz (1945–2001) dealt with the masterful work of Paul, the high altar of St Jacob, constructed and sculpted until 1508. In a precious analysis Glatz searched for the roots of sculptures, reliefs and tabular paintings; the first are combinations of various prints by Master E. S., Martin Schongauer and others. Paul’s origin from Spiš speaks to his close relation to the older artistic traditions in Levoča. The next possible sources Glatz searched for in the œuvre of Tilman Riemenschneider. Glatz devoted special attention to the “constructing” of various adjuncts and followers of Paul. Such intentions lead his practice as a museum curator and an expert on questions of style. Finally, the method helped to categorize a number of anonymous works in collections, but does not give access to a more global view of art history. Glatz planned such a synthesis on the base of a detailed analysis of the whole fund of Slovakia’s Gothic Art. Such a finale was unfortunately left unfinished due to his premature death.

This presentation is dedicated to the use of national categories and nationalist discourse in the academic dispute over the retable of St. Jacob from Levoča and over  the oeuvre of its creator, Master Paul of Levoča. The main aim of the paper is to show how and to what extent Hungarian, German, Slovak, Czech and Polish art historians used this type of discourse. This will also allow to demonstrate how their use of such categories influenced their judgment of the artistic value of Master Paul’s work, as well as to show what role national orientation played in the attribution of other works to this sculptor. The analyzes will be mostly concerned with the early, 19th century Hungarian text, pre-World War II German literature, as well as the post-War research of Slovak and Polish art historians and historians. The paper will also attempt to answer how the academic disputes were conditioned by the changing geopolitical situation in the region and the evolution of Slovak national identity. It is also important to consider how the academic discussions influenced the role of Paul of Levoča in the promotion of Slovak cultural heritage.

Niniejszy referat porusza problem sposobu stosowania kategorii narodowych i narodowo-państwowych w dyskusji nad retabulum św. Jakuba z Lewoczy oraz nad dorobkiem jego twórcy Mistrza Pawła z Lewoczy. Głównym celem wystąpienia jest wskazanie, w jaki sposób i do jakiego stopnia stosowanie tych kategorii przez węgierskich, niemieckich, słowackich, czeskich i polskich historyków sztuki wpływało nie tylko na ich ocenę wartości dzieł Mistrza Pawła, lecz także na dokonywane przez nich atrybucje na rzecz tego snycerza. Analizie poddane zostaną przede wszystkim XIX-wieczne teksty węgierskie, przedwojenne publikacje niemieckie oraz powojenne badania słowackich i polskich historyków i historyków sztuki. Podjęta zostanie również próba odpowiedzi na pytanie, w jaki sposób dyskusja naukowa była warunkowa na przez zmienną sytuację geopolityczną regionu i przemiany słowackiej tożsamości narodowej. Należy także rozważyć kwestię tego, w jaki sposób dyskusje naukowe wpłynęły na rolę postaci Pawła z Lewoczy w promocji słowackiego dziedzictwa kulturowego.

Master Paul from Levoča was the most important Spiš wood-carver at the turn of the 16th century. The outstanding achievement of his workshop is the main altar of the Parish Church of St James in Levoča, created between the years 1508 and ca. 1514. Master Paul, however, was active in other towns and regions also: in Kežmarok, Banská Bystrica, Spišské Vlachy, Prešov and Sabinov. His co-workers, who brought his characteristic idealising style (close to that of the Nuremberg sculptor Veit Stoss) even further afield, created still more altars, crucifixes, and free-standing statues.
The paper is dedicated to one of the most monumental Crucifixions that can be attributed directly to Master Paul, situated today in the shrine of the Highaltar of the Parish Church of the Holy Cross in Kežmarok, Slovakia (Germ.: Käsmark; Hung.: Késmárk). It discusses the place of the artefact in a context of the sculptor´s oeuvre as well as its possible original use as reconstructed from the younger sources concerning the church furnishings.