PRESERVATION OF JOHN GEORGЕ PINZEL’S CREATIVE HERITAGE IN THE MUSEUMS OF TERNOPIL

Abstract

In the 60-80’s of the XX century by the aid of the search work of art expert V. Svientsitska, B. Voznytskyi, V. Stetsko the art works of John George Pinzel were saved (? –1761). Thus, the sculptures and carved icons of the talented artist appeared in the museum collections of Galicia. Today, part of the creative heritage is stored in the holdings of two museums in Ternopil: Ternopil Regional Museum of Local Lore (TRMLL) and Ternopil Regional Museum of Art (TRMA). Only since the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence J. G. Pinzel’s heritage has become an object of study. We thank the director of the Lviv Art Gallery B. Voznytskyi for returning the name of the sculptor and his creative achievements to the field of interest of Ukrainian scientists. Afterwards, the figure of I. G. Pinzel became central in the writings of the Ternopil researcher V. Stetsko. Topicality of the article is conditioned by the need of studying the state of conservation of the creative heritage of J. G. Pinzel in the museums of Ternopil. The purpose of the article is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the sculptor’s works in the collections of TRMLL and TRAM, to highlight cultural projects on the representation of the artist’s work with the assistance of museums. Today, six sculptures and three reliefs created by J. G. Pinzel in the 18th century for Buchach churches are stored in the museums of Ternopil. The first works of the artist came to the collection of TRMLL in 1978. In 1993, four works by J. G. Pinzel (sculptures: Saint Vincent a Paulo and Saint Francis Borgia; bas-reliefs: Miracle of Saint Nicholas and Beheading of John the Baptist were exhibited in TRMLL in the section “Culture of the Region of the end of the XVII – first half of the XIX century”. In January 2012, the exhibition opened to mark the 250th anniversary of the sculptor’s death. The project curator V. Stetsko represented 300 exhibits. Six sculptures and two bas-reliefs of the artist were exhibited in a separate hall. For the first time, four allegorical figures have been demonstrated: Allegory of Faith, Wisdom, Courage and Allegory of St. Tobias. In 2014, all the artist’s works were placed in a separate “John George Pinzel Hall”, decorated in Baroque style. Significant contribution to the preservation and promotion of the creative work of J. G. Pinzel belonged to Vira Stetsko (1956–2016), art expert, local historian, scientific associate of TRMLL. Her work “Pinzel and Ternopil Region” (2007) was published in Ternopil. V. Stetsko hypothesized, that J. G. Pinzel carved his portrait on the sculpture “Allegory of Courage”. TRMA plays a significant role in preserving J. G. Pinzel’s creative heritage. Today the collection of the institution contains only one work of the sculptor – the bas-relief “Road to Emmaus”. The masterpiece is presented in the hall of “Art of Ukraine” in the section of sacred art of Galicia. The TRMA exposition previously stored Deacon Doors from the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Town of Buchach. The reliefs were known as Guardian Angel and Annunciation. Thereafter, at the request of the residents of Buchach, the directorate of the art museum was forced to transfer the monument of sacred art to the church. The creative heritage of J. G. Pinzel, stored in the collections of museums of Ternopil, is of particular relevance, since the artist’s achievements represent a close connection of Western Ukrainian lands with European culture. The masterpieces of the sculptor from the Ternopil museums were selected for the exhibition of works by J. G. Pinzel in The Louvre in 2012. Today, every visitor of Ternopil museums can learn about the genius of the sculptor J. G. Pinzel, who was able to combine artistic traditions of the Baroque style with the canon of local professional carving in his own works.