The stained glass of the Muri Monastery are stained glass windows from the 16th century, which are located in the cloister of the Muri Monastery . It is a cycle of 57 cabinet panes , which are framed in 19 three-part lancet windows with tracery . The painted panes were donations from various institutions. They are among the most important works of Renaissance stained glass in Switzerland and are an important cultural and historical monument from the post-Reformation period.
A few days after the Battle of Kappel on October 11, 1531, the monastery was occupied by Bernese troops who had arrived too late for the battle and suffered great damage. By order of Laurentius von Heidegg , the cloister was rebuilt in 1534/35, with the arches facing the inner courtyard initially not being glazed. Twenty years later, his successor Johann Christoph vom Grüth had the arches decorated with glass paintings. The abbey financed the tracery windows and the paintings in the pointed arches. According to the custom of the time, befriended monasteries, the federal umbrella sites of the abbey, neighboring cities, magistrates and foreign envoys donated the remaining glass paintings. The choice of artist was left to the abbot.
The donated panes were inserted from 1554, twelve years later most of the windows were decorated. Up until 1625, additional panes were occasionally added, although it is assumed that they replaced older ones. The panes are mainly works by the Zurich glass painters Carl von Aegeri and Heinrich Leu, some of them by Niklaus Bluntschli from Zurich, Christoph Brandenberg from Zug , Jakob Wägmann from Lucerne and Hans Füchslin from Bremgarten .
When the monastery church was rebuilt in 1695, most of the northern tract of the cloister was demolished, and the Loreto chapel was built in a smaller area . As a result, the existing glass windows were lost. Individual parts were then used to repair the existing windows. After the Grand Council of the Canton of Aargau decided to abolish the monastery on January 13, 1841, Colonel Friedrich Frey-Herosé (later Federal Councilor ) had the panes removed because he suspected theft. In fact, however, two panes had been brought to Constance for renovation . The panes were brought to Aarau and exhibited in the government building from 1869 . From 1897 they adorned the Aarau Art and Craft Museum. In 1957 the panes were brought back to Muri and put back in at their original location.
Description of the paintings
The panes usually consist of large, bright and pure glasses in multiple broken colors. For this reason, the drawing of the lead rods is receding and the discs look particularly colorful. Blue areas are created by flashing glass , green by melting yellow or silver solder, red by melting red solder. Contours and shadows consist of burned-in black solder, some of which is erased with a brush and pen.
Double coat of arms of the state of Zurich, above the crowned imperial coat of arms; two lions as shield holders, the right one carries the Zurich banner, the left a sword. Stolen when the monastery was dissolved in 1841 , auctioned by the Schildner zum Schneggen Society in 1881 , replaced by a copy in 1958.
right
The city saint Regula in front of a vedute interrupted by columns with a large minster and preacher's church .
Leodegar von Autun , one of the two city saints, in front of two Corinthian columns and entablature.
center
Double coat of arms of the Lucerne estate, above the crowned imperial coat of arms; as a shield holder on the left a standard bearer and on the right a captain with a halberd; in the upper picture a piercing of the lance.
right
Mauritius , one of the two city saints, in front of the representation of a fantastic city.
Martin of Tours , patron saint of Uri, between two beggars and surrounded by pillars.
center
Double coat of arms of the Uri estate, above the crowned imperial coat of arms; as a sign holder on the left the "Landeshorner" and on the right a standard bearer.
right
Mother of God as patroness of the country on the crescent moon with baby Jesus, lily scepter and crown; surrounded by a wreath of clouds.
above
Adoration of the Child and Annunciation to the Shepherds.
Martin von Tours, one of the state patrons of Schwyz, on horseback, dividing a coat; framed by two Doric columns.
center
Double coat of arms of the Schwyz estate, above the crowned imperial coat of arms; as a shield holder on the left a standard bearer and on the right a captain.
right
The second national patron of Uris, St. George, riding a white horse; in the background a representation of a landscape of castles with St. Margaretha.
Petrus , patron saint of Unterwalden, with the step of a Morisk dancer and key in his right hand; surrounded by columns and arches.
center
Coats of arms of Nidwalden (left) and Obwalden (right), above the crowned imperial coat of arms; two warriors as shield holders (the standard bearer on the right); in the upper picture Niklaus von Flüe .
right
Apostle Paul with sword; surrounded by columns and arches.
Saint Fridolin von Säckingen , patron saint of Glarus, holding a dead man by the hand, whom he calls as a witness; surrounded by Corinthian columns.
center
Double coat of arms of the Glarus estate, above the crowned imperial coat of arms; two warriors as shield holders (the standard bearer on the right); a battle scene in the upper picture.
right
Saint Hilary of Poitiers , who raises a child to be baptized; scenes of a deer hunt with safety nets on the base.
Double coat of arms of the Zug estate, above the crowned imperial coat of arms; two warriors as shield holders (the standard bearer on the left); in the upper picture two fighting lancers, behind them a warrior with a two-handed sword and a rifleman.
right
Saint Oswald of York with a golden cup in his right hand, the city of Zug and Buonas Castle in the background.
Coat of arms of the city of Baden, above it the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire with a bow crown ; flanked by two standard bearers; right banner with image of Mary in the pole , left banner with image of Mary on the pole.
Double coat of arms of the city of Bremgarten, above it the Reich shield; two lions hold the imperial shield on the one hand and the imperial crown on the other .
Embroidered coat of arms with a gold helmet, surrounded by a ring with an inscription; two allegories of patience and love serve as shield holders ; in the upper picture the saints Conrad, Beatus, Francis and Anna around the Savior .
Embroidered coat of arms; in the 1st field the coat of arms of the monastery, in the 2nd and 3rd fields the coat of arms of Abbot Michael Herster, in the 4th field the coat of arms of the mother of the abbot; to the right of the sign Benedikt von Nursia, to the left the monastery patron Fintan von Rheinau ; Annunciation of Mary in the upper picture.
right
Governor Ulrich Püntener of Uri and Adelheid a Pro (1597)
Right emblem of Ulrich Püntener with a black bull as a jewel, on the left the coat of arms of Adelheid a Pro with geck; in between standing Ulrich von Augsburg with bishop's robe; the upper picture shows the judgment of Solomon and the beheading of John the Baptist.
Embroidered coat of arms; in fields 1 and 4 the coat of arms of the monastery, in fields 2 and 3 the coat of arms of Abbot Joachim Eichhorn; Maria is to the right of the sign, Meinrad von Einsiedeln to the left ; Annunciation to Mary in the upper picture.
Embroidered coat of arms; in fields 1 and 4 the coat of arms of the diocese, in fields 2 and 3 the coat of arms of the Metzler von Feldkirch ; next to the shield the saints Conrad and Pelagius ; in the upper picture crescent moon Madonna in wreath of clouds.
Coat of arms of the abbey, the county of Toggenburg and the Blarer von Wartensee; next to the shields the Saints Gallus and Otmar of St. Gallen ; in the upper picture Gallus in prayer and with the bear.
above
Embroidered coat of arms; in field 1 the coat of arms of the House of Habsburg , in fields 2 and 3 the coat of arms of Abbot Johann Christoph vom Grüth, in field 4 the coat of arms of the Muri monastery; surrounded by representation of the good Samaritan .
Three pyramidal coats of arms ( Archduchy of Austria , St. Blasien Monastery, Barons of Seldenbüren ); flanked by four composite columns.
center
Depiction of St. Blaise seated on a throne with a stag at his feet.
right
On the right the coat of arms of the St. Blasien monastery, on the left the coat of arms of the Müller family (Molitoris); flanked by four composite columns.
above
The four evangelists with their symbols; two coats of arms Monastery Muri / Abbot Johann Christoph vom Grüth.
Window S5
part
Founder (year)
description
photo
Left
Schultheiss Bernhard Mutschlin of Bremgarten (1555)
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Spain, in the base two small coats of arms of the envoy Pompeio della Croce; in the upper pictures the Solomonic judgment and homage by handing over flowers and honey.
above
Creation of Adam and Eve and the whispering of the serpent.
Embroidered coat of arms; in fields 1 and 4 the coat of arms of the founder of the monastery, Konrad von Sellenbüren , in field 2 the coat of arms of Engelberg monastery, in field 3 the coat of arms of abbot Jodok Kramer; on the right of the coat of arms Queen of Heaven with Child Jesus, on the left Benedict of Nursia ; in the upper picture stigmatization of Francis of Assisi and mortification of Hieronymus .
Right coat of arms of the Order of St. John ; on the left the coat of arms of Joseph of Cambiano, in the middle John the Baptist ; in the upper picture the beheading of Johannes.
Four trumpet angels in a yellow sky lined with laurel wreaths and blue bands of clouds.
Window W2
part
Founder (year)
description
photo
Left
Schultheiss Hans Hug of Lucerne (1558)
Coat of arms of the founder; to the right of his namesake John the Baptist ; in the background city in a mountainous river landscape (possibly Turin , place of death of the founder).
center
Martha Tamann, wife of Hans Hug (1558)
Right coat of arms of Tamann, left coat of arms of Hasfurter (mother's family); in between hl. Martha in contemporary bourgeois costume; in the background landscape with lake and mountains.
right
Erasmus von Hertenstein, second husband of Martha Tamann (1558)
Coat of arms of the Hertenstein; to the left standing Erasmus of Antioch ; in the background view of the city of Lucerne .
Heinrich II. Fleckenstein, mayor of Lucerne, and his wife Anna Klauser (1558)
On the right the Fleckenstein coat of arms (with blue helmet ), on the left the coat of arms of the Klauser von Zürich ; in the middle St. Anna herself third ; in the background mountainous river landscape.
center
Heinrich I. Fleckenstein, mayor of Lucerne, and his wife Anna Reichmuth (1558)
On the right the coat of arms of Fleckenstein (with golden helmet), on the left coat of arms of Reichmuth von Schwyz ; in the middle Emperor Heinrich II ; in the background a church model based on the Grossmünster in Zurich.
right
Beat Fleckenstein and his wife Anna Mutschlin (1558)
On the right the Fleckenstein coat of arms (with blue helmet), on the left the coat of arms of the Mutschlin von Bremgarten ; in the middle of St. Beatus chasing a kite over Lake Thun .
Melchior Lussy von Stans and Katharina Amlehn von Luzern (1563)
In the middle the coat of arms of the Lussy (silver Agnus Dei on a blue background), to the left of it a small coat of arms of the Amlehn; flanked by shield holders Peter (with key) and Katharina (with sword and broken wheel); in the upper picture representation of the Council of Trent .
center
Wendel Sonnenberg of Lucerne and Klara Ziegler (1563)
On the right the coat of arms of the Sonnenberg, on the left the coat of arms of the Ziegler von Schaffhausen ; in the middle of St. Wendelin in shepherd's costume with a white lamb; in the upper picture David and Goliath as an allusion to the battle of Kappel .
Right coat of arms of the Fuchsberger; the benefactor kneeling next to him as a mercenary leader in plate armor; on the two gusset discs above the volute arch a depiction of the legend of the “grateful dead”, in this case with the donor praying in front of the cemetery ossuary. The dead come out of their graves, arm themselves with farm tools and drive away the persecutors of the prayer. A font cartouche with the date of creation 1562 between the two spandrels.
above
Deer and hare hunting, on horseback and on foot.
Window W5
part
Founder (year)
description
photo
Left
Schultheiss Niklaus Amlehn of Lucerne and Elisabeth Zukäs (1566)
Right coat of arms of the Amlehn, on the left the coat of arms of Zukäs; the patron saints of the founders, Nikolaus von Myra and Elisabeth von Thuringia , are half covered by the coats of arms ; in the upper picture representation of a deer hunt.
center
Schultheiss Niklaus von Meggen (from Lucerne) and Margaretha Schinner (1566)
On the right the coat of arms of the von Meggen family, on the left the coat of arms of the Schinner; behind the crest, a dude armed with a Jerusalem cross and a Katharinenrad as well as a virgin with crossed arms; in the upper picture boar hunt with safety nets.
right
Landvogt Hans Tamann of Lucerne (1566)
Right coat of arms of Tamann, left coat of arms of Feer von Luzern; John the Baptist standing between the shields; in the upper picture two scenes of the beheading of John.
above
Country dance with couples and musicians.
Window W6
part
Founder (year)
description
photo
Left
Schultheiss Lux Knight of Lucerne (1558)
On the left the coat of arms of the Lux Ritter with a golden lion as a helmet jewel; Next to it, the founder, standing with his legs apart, dressed in a doublet and a thrown back helmet; in the upper picture depicts the siege of Calais (1558), in which Lux participated as a French colonel.
center
Colonel Rudolf Pfyffer of Lucerne (1616)
On the left the coat of arms quartered with a heart shield (union of the coats of arms of Pfyffer's five wives), above a dude, surrounded by a Jerusalem cross and a wheel of Catherine; on the right Benedict of Nursia with crook and poison cup; in the upper picture representation of the vision of Francis of Assisi.
On the right the Pfyffer's coat of arms, above it a dude with pointed hat, lily and command staff; on the left the donor stands with his legs apart, clad in plate armor and with a staff in his hand; the top of the picture shows the battle of Moncontour .
Georg Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau . Ed .: Society for Swiss Art History . Volume V, Muri District. Birkhäuser, Basel 1967, p.367-403 .
Peter Felder: The Muri Monastery . Ed .: Society for Swiss Art History. Swiss art guide, volume692 . Bern 2001, ISBN 3-85782-692-4 .
Rolf Hasler: Stained Glass in the Canton of Aargau . tape3 : Muri cloister ( Corpus Vitrearum Switzerland, Modern Period 2 series). Book 2002.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. P. 367.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 367-370; Fields: The Muri Monastery. Pp. 22-23.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 370-371.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. P. 372.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 394-396.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. P. 396.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. P. 396.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 396-398.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. P. 398.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 398-399.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 399-400.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. P. 384.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 384-388.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 388-390.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 390-391.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 391-392.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 392-394.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 372-374.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 374-376.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 376-379.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 379-380.
↑ Hans Georg Wehrens: The dance of death in the Alemannic language area. «I have to do it - and don't know what» . Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-7954-2563-0 . Pp. 46-47.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 381-382.
^ Germann: The art monuments of the canton Aargau, district Muri. Pp. 382-383.
