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Figure of a Monk

Antoni Osinski

Basic information
ID
С-I-1586
Author
Antoni Osinski
Name
Figure of a Monk
Date of creation
1750–1760s
Technique
carving
Material
wood polychrome gilt
Dimensions (height x width x depth, cm)
142 x 98 x 140
Additionally
Type
sculpture
Genre
religious
Information about author
Author
Antoni Osinski
Artist's lifetime
c. 1720 – after 1764
Country
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, now Ukraine
Biography
Antoni Osinski (c. 1720 – after 1764) was a native of Lviv, one of the leading masters of the second period of Lviv Baroque sculpture. It is known that he was an apprentice of Thomas Hutter and Johann Georg Pinsel. The sculptor’s artistic heritage is quite large; he is credited with many works, but only some of them are documented. Antoni Osinski worked on the interior design of the churches of the Order of the Bernardine Fathers in Lezajsk, Leshnevo (Lviv region), and Zbarazh. During his creative career, the sculptor’s working style changed under the influence of artists who came to Lviv from Germany and Austria. Antoni Osinski's sculptures are characterized by vibrant facial expression, as well as tendency to stylize poses and clothes.
Object description
The polychrome figure of a monk is represented in the form of the S-shaped silhouette, which was typical of the Baroque period. The figure is shown with his arms outstretched and the right leg bent; the head is turned to the right and slightly tilted forward. The figure is made in Baroque and Rococo style. The sculptor mainly aimed to convey a form, mood, and emotions of a person, rather than to show the anatomical similarity. The Bernardine monk looks as if he is frozen in a theatrical pose. The sculptor primarily focused on the monk’s face, depicting a small sharp chin, visible cheekbones, hollow cheeks, a straight nose, and small, thin lips. The master skillfully showed the facial expression of the monk. The dynamic folds of the monk's clothes add some expression to the image. The drapery is carved in the form of abstract planes bent at different angles; the pose and clothing of the person are stylized, making the works by Antoni Osinski related to the sculptures by Johann Georg Pinsel.
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

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