The figure of St Zechariah, attributed to the baroque sculptor from Maribor was acquired for the National Gallery by Fran Windischer (1877–1955). Its original location is unknown but it is stylistically similar to the statue of St Nicholas on the high altar of the parish church of St Martin in Kamnica, which dates from around 1767. At this point Holzinger is already moving away from the characteristic style of Josef Straub, under whom he trained, and showing more personal traits.

While Zechariah is the name of several figures in the Bible, in this case the depiction is of the Zechariah who was Elizabeth’s husband and the father of John the Baptist. In the baroque period he is frequently depicted as a high priest dressed in liturgical vestments – including a bicorn mitre and a breastplate or rationaleconsisting of twelve precious stones set in gold that represent the twelve 
tribes of Israel. He frequently appears on altars as one of a pair with Elizabeth or John the Baptist.