CALVARY CHAPEL - RECESSED
CHAPEL
The niche chapel in Baroque style was built into the cemetery wall at the beginning of the 17th century. It is not known whether an older chapel previously stood on the site. It is a prismatic structure with a straight termination, covered by a lean-to roof. In the upper niche with a semicircular top there was originally a Calvary group from 1544. The original statue of the crucified Christ was taken down in the 19th century and placed in the lower niche symbolizing the Holy Sepulchre. At the same time, a crucifix painted on sheet metal was installed in its former position. Today, the main niche contains a wooden cross with a figure of the Crucified.
SCULPTURAL GROUP
The Calvary group was created in 1544 by the Dresden sculptor Christoph Walter, commissioned by the town council. It consists of statues of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the crucified Christ. The statue of Christ originally had movable arms and real nails in the crown of thorns. At Easter, it was taken down from the cross, carried in procession and then placed in the lower niche of the chapel representing the Holy Sepulchre. Repeated handling caused wear to the arms, and during the 18th century the original sandstone arms were replaced with wooden ones. The statue was also repainted white, which caused the original polychromy to disappear.
By the 19th century, the deterioration of the statue of Christ had become so severe that defects in the stone appeared and there was a risk of collapse. The statue was therefore permanently moved to the niche of the Holy Sepulchre, and a crucifix painted on metal sheet was installed in its place.
In 1993 the statues were removed from the chapel due to their poor condition, and after restoration they did not return to their original position. They were first temporarily placed beneath the gallery of the Church of St Joachim, and after the reconstruction of the Church of All Saints they were installed at their present location inside it, arranged in a form close to the original composition.
At the centre of the installation is a cross with the torso of the original Christ, transferred here from the depot of the Karlovy Vary Museum, and the statues stand on prismatic pedestals at the sides.
Although the work dates from the Early Renaissance, a strong Late Gothic influence is evident. The stance of the figures is rigid and stylised, and the garments form deep, transversely crumpled folds. The Virgin Mary standing to the left of the cross is bent in a Gothic manner at the hips and grasps the end of her garment tied into a knot. Her heart is pierced by a metal sword. Saint John has a broad face with abundant curls and looks directly at Christ.
Photo gallery: https://mipalfi.rajce.idnes.cz/Kaple_Kalvarie_vyklenkova/
