Felix Ivo Leicher und sein Auftrag für das Kloster der Barfüßer-Augustiner in Tábor

Abstract

From the mid-1750s, Felix Ivo Leicher (1727–1812) was one of the most frequently employed Viennese painters in the Czech Lands. Considering Leicher's extensive activity until the end of the 18th century, it is quite understandable that it is rare to still find works as yet unassociated with his authorship. In addition to several recently found altar and easel paintings, more or less isolated in various places (Rajhrad, Vambeřice, Brumovice near Opava), also worth of note is a hitherto neglected set of some seven altarpieces, which he painted from 1761 to 1765 for the then newly built side altars of the monastery church of the Barefoot Augustinians in Tábor. In the place of their original destination, in the Tábor monastery church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, only three have been preserved to the present day, the other four, including the altar furniture, were moved to other places following the abolition of the monastery. In addition to these new findings, the examination of Leicher's work also brings about the necessity of making certain adjustment for works that were attributed to him in the past or were associated with his name (Louka, Tata, Lískovec, Konská, Korneuburg).