Daily Shaarli
Yesterday - May 22, 2025
Page 50
"...some artists gave her (symbolic America) a copper tint and a few - confusing America with Africa - created a Negroid image of both."
E Note: this alleged confusion is debunked by the ornate altar/sculpture located within the monastery at St. Georgenberg
Year: 1738
"Allegorical sculptures (putti), attached freely to the corners of the pulpit basket, (re)present the four continents. The attribute assignment is clear: America is a dark-skinned figure, dressed in feather skirt and feather crown. In her hands is a crucifix that can be read as a reference to America's special position as the continent that was last missionized. Europe is wrapped in antique clothing. On her head she wears a crown as a symbol of worldly power, in her hands she holds the Pope's Cross, Tiara and the Bible as symbols of spiritual power. The allegory of Africa follows. Like America, she wears feather skirt and feather headdress. She holds a large rosary in her hands. The last thing to follow is Asia, her boots on top of each other, dressed in a wide tunic and a large turban on her head. The four continents symbolize the universal claim and mission in the iconographic program of this remarkable pulpit, the main theme of which is the Word of God."
Translated from:
America, Europe, Africa (left to right)
America
America, Europe
Africa, Asia
Full Pulpit (E notes that in the following URL of the thumbnail mapping to America is incorrect, it shows a photo of Europe in place of America)
Location: https://st-georgenberg.at/
https://youtu.be/n_VGOTsuKHk?t=2569 (3-second video glimpse)
https://www.artandobject.com/news/four-continents-allegories-explained