(Hallein 1840–1890 Speising) A coloured design sketch for a window with saints Isabella and Dominic in the basilica St. Epvre in Nancy, 1868, signed F. Jobst, gouache, pen and black ink, over pencil, on paper, 62 x 26 cm, mounted, unframed,(Sch)

The windows for the church St. Epvre in Nancy are among the earliest documented works by the Jobst brothers. The church replaced a medieval ducal court and people’s church and was erected between 1864–1871. Emperor Francis-Joseph I. donated (as descendant of the Ducal House of Lorraine) one of the 74 large windows in 1866. It was designed under the supervision of Friedrich v. Schmidt in Vienna and was executed by the the Geyling glass manufacture. In 1867/68 followed the commission for 14 further windows, for which Karl and Franz Jobst designed the sketches and the cartons. The windows have four vertical glass panels with standing figures under arcades and a carpet patterned background. In the tracery above the coat-of-arms of the donators are inscribed in a quatrefoil. The seventh window in the southern aisle of the church was donated by Monsieur Besval, exceuted in 1868 and shows saints Isabella, Dominic, Andrew and Monica. The sketch shows saints Isabella (1224–1269), the sister of Saint Louis and Dominic (1170–1221), founder of the eponymous preacher community. Both were depicted in their respective habit and are facing each other. With the transfer to the window some of the figures were changed, particularly in the colour of the garment and the faces of the two saints. The backgrounds remained identical.

Literature: Monika Holy, Das Oeuvre der Brüder Jobst, Dissertation, 2002, Vol. I, S.103f.; Ill. see Vol. IIa, p.95.

We are grateful to Alicia Ysabel Spengler for the scientific support in drafting the catalogue entry of the present design.