Sculptures – Moses and John the Baptist
author – sculptor Peter Josef Imhof (1768-1844)
date – 1817;
material – linden wood,
technique – cut, oil painting, gilding
dimensions 1800 x 1000
Altar mensa
author – made by the Heusermann firm after V. Neimans sketch
date – 1897
material – pine wood;
technique – carpentry, polychrome oil painting, gilding
dimensions – 4274 x 1164 x 810
Altar retable
author – made by the Heizerman firm after V. Neimans
date – 1897
material – pine wood;
technique – carpentry, polychrome oil painting, gilding
dimensions – 5029 x 3400 x 400
Restoration: 2014-1015
SIA Restore employees: Aida Podziņa (polychrome wood restorer – old master);
Andris Podziņš (assistant restorer);
Kaspars Burvis (wood carving restorer – master);
The painting – “Transfiguration of Christ”
author – Ernst Gothilf Bosse (1785–1862) (copy of Raphael’s painting);
date – 1821;
material – canvas;
performance technique – oil
dimensions, mm – 2685 x 1842
This altar was created according to the sketch of Johann Wilhelm Carl Neumann (1849-1919), art historian and conservation manager of the Riga Cathedral, in 1897. Both sculptures (Moses and John) and the altarpiece have survived from the main altar of the Cathedral, consecrated in 1817. The sculptures for this altar were made by Peter Joseph Imhof (1768–1844), a family member of the Sculptors Dynasty from Cologne.
The altar is made in neoclassical style. Majestic sculptures – prophets Moses and John the Baptist – are placed on rectangular platforms at the ends of the altar table. The plasticity of the cut of the sculptures and the sense of form shows the high professionalism and craftsmanship of the performer. The author of the sculptures inaccurately treated the iconographic attributes of John the Baptist, therefore in later times, when some of the original attributes disappear, the names – John the Apostle and John the Evangelist – are used in literature and documents.
Moses is one of the most important personalities in the Old Testament. Moses, by the command of God, leads his people out of the bondage of Egypt and leads them to the Promised land. On the way to this land, God through Moses gave the people the commandments. The Ten Commandments given by God are symbolically represented on two Tablets: the relationship with God (1-3) and the relationship with people (4-10). The Ten Commandments of God are the constant will of God at all times for all people
I am the Lord your God, You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Moses is depicted in Riga Cathedral in two places – in the stained-glass window (together with prophet Elijah) in the apsis of southern nave and as a sculpture in the Altar of the Chapel of Mary.
In Riga Cathedral, John the Baptist is depicted in three places – in the paintings of the students’ balcony railings, in the doors of the pulpit and the Altar of St. Mary’s Chapel.
The Painting “The Transfiguration of Christ” occupies the central part of the altarpiece.
During Napoleon’s campaign, Riga Cathedral served as a warehouse for storing food for the city’s inhabitants. When the state of war ended, the Cathedral needed to be renovated. During the renovation works, on March 3, 1816, a decision was made to establish a new altar. A copy of the painting “Transfiguration” by Raffaello Sanzio (1483–1520) reduced in size by 1/3 crated by Ernst Gothilf Bosse (1785–1862) was erected in the new altarpiece.
The choice of the new church altar turned out to be the great sensation in for Riga citizens. This event became the most important one in the art life of the city of Riga. Everyone wanted to see the painting with their own eyes. The newspaper even announced that the church will be open to the viewers at any time.
The painting depicts the events of the 17th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus and his three disciples on the mountain experience an event of enlightenment, but at the same time the other disciples encounter a boy whom they cannot heal. The painting depicts both of these events at the same time.
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. (Matt. 17:1-5. 14-18).