Rediscovered and Revived Lenten Veils in Austria

Today I'd like to feature some nineteenth century Lenten veils from the parish church of St. John the Baptist (Pfarrkirche hl. Johannes der Täufer) in Kaning, Austria. The parish was founded in the mid fifteenth century and is a quaint gothic structure with some Baroque and Rococo additions found within. 

The veils were rediscovered in the year 2000, found stored behind a confessional. They were originally created in the mid nineteenth century by Johann Tronigger (+1876), a local farmer's son and a self-taught artist who executed some other works within the parish as well. 

For those not familiar, Lenten veils (velum quadrigesimale) are traditionally hung before altarpieces during the season of Lent; their intended function being to conceal the festal-like beauty of those altarpieces. Typically these veils are not simply plain however (though they certainly could be), but instead depict themes pertinent to the Lenten season; themes taken from the Passion of Christ such as the Crucifixion, Veronica's veil, and so forth.  

Today's featured example is no exception to this. There are three veils in total, one for each the parish's three altarpieces. 

The main veil is that which is intended to cover the altarpiece of the high altar. This particular veil features a scene of the Crucifixion of Christ. The veil includes the two thieves who were crucified alongside Christ, as well as Our Lady, St. John and St. Mary Magdalen (and one other female figure) weeping and lamenting at the foot of the Cross. 

The Crucifixion Veil before the altarpiece of the high altar

For each of the two side altars we find two further veils. The first showcases an image of the Deposition of Christ and Pietà. 

The Deposition

Detail

The third and final veil carries an image of an extra-biblical devotional scene; that of Christ, taking leave of His mother before departing to Jerusalem where He will face His Passion and Death. 

For those who are curious about what these are veiling and would like to see both the altarpieces beneath, and also better see and understand the visual and devotional impact the veils have, here are a few views of the parish outside of Lent, sans the veils. 

The high altar dates to 1670, with an 18th century Rococo tabernacle, and features a painting of the Baptism of Christ.

Side altar to the Virgin Mary (painted in 1856 by the same artist responsible for the Lenten veils, Johann Tronigger)

Side altar depicting St. Isidore (18th cent.)

Photo credits (Lenten Veils): Monika Suntinger

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