For a long time they slumbered under a painting and then their meaning initially remained unrecognized. Now, for the first time, conservationists are putting the remains of an art-historical treasure in Augsburg Cathedral into the spotlight. According to experts, the depictions of the life and death of John the Baptist date from when the Ottonian cathedral was built in the early 11th century. This is the oldest evidence of the painting of an early medieval episcopal church north of the Alps.
At some point they were thought to be out of date or unimportant and so they were painted over, plastered or built up – and finally fell into oblivion: This is probably what happened to many works of art throughout history. There is also an opportunity in this sad fate: art historical treasures can be rediscovered – as in the current case, which the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD) is now reporting.
The gaze was directed towards the southern transept of Augsburg Cathedral. For centuries, the now exposed wall paintings slumbered there under a painting over. As reported by the BlfD, their traces were discovered in the 1930s and 1980s, but the age and significance were not recognized. This only changed after further discoveries: During restoration work on the roof structure in 2009, wall paintings emerged, which apparently belonged to around 1000 year old building structures of the cathedral. This in turn threw new light on the older discoveries in the transept and so a restoration and building research team under the direction of the BLfD devoted a more detailed investigation to the finds for the first time.
From Ottonian times
They were able to confirm that these are wall paintings of the Ottonian cathedral. In this context, it can be seen from building history information from the Diocese of Augsburg that the episcopal church was rebuilt in 995 after the collapse of the previous building. According to tradition, this was supported by the later canonized Empress Adelheid – the wife of Emperor Otto I. This so-called Ottonian cathedral was completed around 1050. In the following centuries, however, many of the building structures were changed considerably.
As the BLfD reports, the rediscovered representations in the southern transept were now documented, cleaned and secured in the course of the work. Despite the severe damage, two scenes and indications of a third could be identified: The execution scene showing Herod enthroned and the disciples of the Baptist mourning his beheading have been preserved on the east wall. The experts were able to identify the scene of the entombment on the west wall. The depiction of the birth and the naming of John the Baptist, presumably affixed to the south wall, was destroyed in the middle of the 14th century when the Gothic south window was built, reports the BlfD.
Art historical treasure
According to the experts, the picture cycle is now the oldest evidence of the painting of an early medieval bishop’s church north of the Alps.
In terms of art history, the decoration system is very similar to the Georgskirche in Oberzell on the island of Reichenau, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “The mural paintings that were discovered are the largest known cycle in terms of surface area, apart from Oberzell, from around 1000 in the German-speaking area,” says Mathias Pfeil from the BlfD.
Cathedral capitular Armin Zürn of Augsburg Cathedral is also happy about the research results: “The new findings, especially the discovery of St. John’s Vita, are evidence of the great design of this spiritual place through the centuries.” The BlfD writes that further investigations are to be carried out in other parts of the building as well.
Source: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BlfD), Diocese of Augsburg