S tudia H istorica S lovenica
in 1901,74 while the second edition of 1909 was considerably expanded.75 The author presents the chronology of the construction, lists the names of the masters, and gives a precise description of the building and its furnishings. The sumptuously illustrated book also contains other texts which provide information about church monuments in the close and remote vicinity. Because monographs on sacred architecture written by bishops are extremely rare, the fact that the text was written by Prince-Bishop himself is of special importance. Of the texts that deal with contemporary architecture and art, mention should be made of those by Avguštin Stegenšek (1875−1920). Napotnik gave him an opportunity to study art history and archaeology, in order that Stegenšek could prepare topographical art inventories of the Lavantine Diocese.76 Apart from the monuments of earlier periods, Stegenšek accorded equal treatment to the sacred architecture of his time in both volumes of his topographical inventories.77 On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Napotnik's term as bishop, Stegenšek presented all the sacred buildings erected in the era of Napotnik in four articles in the journal Ljubitelj krščanske umetnosti (Lover of Christian Art), which was, among other things, also intended to promote new ecclesiastical art in the Slovene lands.78 The above-mentioned texts are the key source for studying church architecture of late historicism in the Slovene part of Styria. In the person of Avguštin Stegenšek, Prince-Bishop had found an excellent collaborator, who exemplarily documented the cultural heritage of the diocese and concurrently promoted new trends in art production (not only in architecture, but also in other arts). Furthermore, Stegenšek's work marks the beginning of the scholarly study of art history in the Lavantine Diocese. Hence, it is precisely Prince-Bishop Mihael Napotnik who can be credited with introducing professional art history to the Slovene part of Styria.
*** Mihael Napotnik, prince-bishop of the Lavantine Diocese, is not only important as a church dignitary whose activities calmed the heated political situation in
74
Michael Napotnik, Einweihungs-Feier der neuerbauten Pfarrkirche zur Heiligen Maria, Mutter der Barmherzigkeit, in der Grazervorstadt zu Marburg (Marburg, 1901). 75 Napotnik, Basilika. Whereas the 1901 edition contains 107 pages and is a commemorative book published on the occasion of the consecration of the church, the 1909 edition, which contains 538 pages, has more of a monograph on the Franciscan church in Maribor. 76 On Stegenšek: Marjeta Ciglenečki, "Stegenškovo umetnostnozgodovinsko delo", Studia Historica Slovenica 7, No. 3−4 (2007): 591−635 (with bibliography). 77 Stegenšek, Dekanija Gornjegrajska, 16, 100−103; Stegenšek, Konjiška Dekanija, 107−109. 78 See note 4.
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