The master’s thesis examines the Baroque renovation of the church complex in Gornji Grad, consisting of the Church of St. Mohor and Fortunat and the associated bishop’s residence. The renovation of the residence, built on the site of the former Benedictine monastery cloister, took place between 1749 and 1752, while work on the church, constructed on the site of the former monastery church, was carried out between 1752 and 1759. The project was initiated by Bishop Ernest Amadej Attems, who did not live to see its completion. The renovation represented one of the largest and most ambitious ecclesiastical building campaigns within the Diocese of Ljubljana and the broader territory of present-day Slovenia. The thesis is based on a comprehensive review of existing literature, as well as the study and interpretation of archival sources. These sources, dispersed across several archives in Slovenia, provide the foundation for understanding the organization of the construction process, including the roles of builders, carpenters, stonecutters, and plasterers in its various phases. Drawing on these materials, the research seeks to reconstruct the project’s chronology and evaluate the organization of labor and financial expenditure. Particular attention is dedicated to the question of authorship of the Church of St. Mohor and Fortunat, which remains unresolved in the literature. While some scholars attribute the design to the Graz-based architect Joseph Hueber, others argue in favor of Matija Perski, an architect active in Ljubljana in the mid-18th century. A dedicated chapter also addresses the paintings that once decorated the ceremonial hall of the bishop’s residence, a space that has not survived to the present day.
|