Page 42 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(1) (2025)

asma theory, which attributes the transmission
of disease to foul air, but also illustrates the hu-
man reaction to the devastating effects of the
epidemic.
The depiction of the plague at the bottom
of the painting made a deep impression on me.
I could well imagine the emotions it evoked in
those who visited the church and heard stories
about the plague that had been passed down
through generations. These images, along with
the sculptural representations of saints and an-
gels who served as protectors against the plague,
42 acted as a form of visual communication. Ac-
cording to a church representative I spoke to,
studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 13 (2025), številka 1 / volume 13 (2025), number 1
some older parishioners still occasionally pray
for health at this side altar. However, there is
currently a lack of information or explanation
about this particular depiction. This gap exists
because the altarpiece was primarily analysed
from an art historical point of view. One art his-
torian noted that ‘the quality of the lower part of
the altarpiece’, which illustrates the effects of the
epidemic, ‘is not comparable to the surrounding
sculptural works on the altarpiece’ (see: Kostan-
jšek Brglez 2019, 74; Šerbelj 1983, 205), which led
to a greater focus on these elements.

b) On altars associated with health and disease
Plague epidemics are remembered in the col-
lective consciousness today as the deadliest. It
is therefore not surprising that the responses
Figure 1: The plague altar in the church of St Andrew in to them throughout history have been not only
Makole, Slovenia (Kostanjšek Brglez 2022b, 40). medical but also religious (Atalić 2019, 232). In
the field of health and illness, altars associated
It shows the suffering of the sick and dying, to- with health and disease serve as powerful meta-
gether with figures carrying away the deceased phors for the focus and practises that individuals
or helping the sick. This artwork reflects the im- and communities use to promote wellness and
portance of protecting the living from conta- address health challenges. These altars embody
gion while also emphasising the cultural tradi- a rich tapestry of cultural meaning, interwoven
tion of honouring the dead, even in the midst with spiritual and ritual elements that emphasise
of the horrors of an epidemic. The painting also their importance in the pursuit of health. Offer-
shows a woman holding a handkerchief to her ings and prayers are made at these sacred sites
nose to show that she is aware of the unpleasant to implore healing and protection from illness.
odour of the corpses, the burnt infected cloths This reflects a deep-rooted belief in the intercon-
and/or the risk of airborne contagion. This ges- nectedness of the physical, spiritual and commu-
ture is not only a sign that she recognises the mi- nal aspects of health.