Choir stalls of the Church of St. Wolfgang

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The choir stalls of the Church of St. Wolfgang are the only ones in German-speaking Switzerland that are crowned with rich, openwork ornaments . The original was made in 1486 and has been in the National Museum in Zurich since 1905 . There it is permanently installed in the lower chapel. A true-to-original copy has been in the St. Wolfgang Church since 1946. The choir stalls consist of two parts, the southern and northern row. The northern row was damaged in a fire, has therefore been shortened and no longer has a knee bench . The work is attributed to the sculptor Ulrich Rosenstein from Lachen, but this has not been proven in writing and accordingly it could also have been made by another co-master from the same workshop.

history

Since the choir stalls were purchased by the city of Zug , it is not surprising that their layout and details are the same as those of St. Oswald's Church in Zug, which was built in 1484. Because of its representation, it probably goes back to an engraving by Master ES, since the city of Zug had acquired the church set with benefices and occupation rights from the Grossmünsterstift von Zürich in 1477 . The erection of the choir stalls is proven for 1486, this date also shows the carved year. At an unknown point in time, the northern stalls were damaged by fire and shortened to three seats. Before that, they probably also had a knee bench. In the 19th century, several armrests were sawn off the southern stalls, and poorly renovated in 1867. In 1904 the Swiss Gottfried Keller Foundation bought it. Then in 1905 a renovation was carried out by Jos. Regl and has since been exhibited in the National Museum in Zurich. On the occasion of the total renovation of the church, a true-to-original copy was made between 1946 and 1948, which was placed in the original location in the Church of St. Wolfgang. The larger (right) choir stalls are on the southern, the smaller (left) on the northern choir wall.

description

Large choir stalls (southern stalls)

The large choir stalls offer seven seats, six of which are located on the side wall of the choir. The seventh seat is angled and its back is against the arched wall. The choir stalls have a knee bench in front of the six longitudinal seats.

The back wall of the larger choir stalls is divided into fields with richly profiled strips. A banner with the inscription “HELGER HER WOLFGANG PJET FOR WONS POOR SUNS” can be found on the field, which is located on the wall of the choir arch, the front wall. At the top, these fields have a tracery made of flat carvings that have no naturalistic impact. Above it is the projecting canopy, which has openwork carved, hanging tendrils on its underside. The frieze has openwork tendrils that end in passion flowers. In the middle of the frieze is an angel with open wings holding the Zug shield. The tendrils on both sides of the coat of arms partially show branches. In it there is a snarling, dog-like demon on the side facing the ship, while on the side facing the east there is an owl. At the top there are open tendrils. The canopy is supported by a slender column towards the east. There is a splendid openwork structure towards the ship. The lowest field is filled with a juicy, compact tendril and has a profiled half-column on the outside. Above it is the banner with the year 1486. ​​The following main field is open and has a richly wound column on the outside. In the resulting arcade there is a powerfully draped statue of St. Wolfgang. Above that there is a round arch arcade, the content of which can no longer be precisely traced. It was already empty when it was taken over by the State Museum; today there is a half-length figure of the Evangelist John with an empty banner. At the top, above the arcade, there is a narrow roll of tape with the inscription "S • JOHANNES • EWANGELIST" and a claw of the eagle, which has been broken off today. The decorated seats are designed as folding seats that have misericords . The kneeling bench is architecturally simple and has only two fabulous animals as jewelry on the back of the end. The outside of the two finishes have tendrils.

Small choir stalls (northern stalls)

The small choir stalls consist of a row of three seats that are located on the side wall of the choir; there is no knee bench. Further back in the choir behind the choir stalls is the sacrament house of the church.

In the canopy, two kneeling wild men, one portrayed naked and hairy, the other as a wild, bearded companion with a helmet and scale armor, hold the Zug shield. It also has an openwork crown with tendrils. The two side cheeks have carved tendrils on the outside, but without figures. The two seat handles that divide the seats have a carved, smiling man's head and a mastiff-like grimace.

  • Southern row of the choir stalls (copy)

  • The statue in the southern choir stalls (copy)

  • The northern row of the choir stalls (copy)

literature

  • Linus Birchler: The art monuments of the canton of Zug. 1. Half volume, introduction and the art monuments of Zug-Land. Birkhäuser 1934, pages 359–362.
  • From the series of Swiss Art Guides GSK (Series 55, No. 544); Josef Grünenfelder: Church of St. Wolfgang in Hünenberg. 2nd revised edition 1993, ISBN 3-85782-544-8 , pages 13-15.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Statement by IR Rahn in: IR Rahn, History of the Fine Arts in Switzerland. Zurich 1876, p. 553.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f The art monuments of the canton of Zug. 1. Half volume, introduction and the art monuments of Zug-Land. Page 359–362.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h Swiss art guide GSK (Series 55, No. 544). Church of St. Wolfgang in Hünenberg. 2nd revised edition 1993, pages 13-15.
  4. ↑ The attribution as a work by Ulrich Rosenstein occurs because of the relationship with the stalls made by him in the St. Oswald, as well as a fragment that can also be attributed to this master in the Historical Museum St. Gallen.