House of the Knight (Schaffhausen)

Facade today

Facade 1850

The Haus zum Ritter , at 65 Vordergasse, is a town house in Schaffhausen . It is known for the fresco paintings by Tobias Stimmer on the facade. The house was built in 1492.

history

The house name "Zum Ritter" can be traced back to the early 14th century. In 1566 the knight Hans von Waldkirch added two storeys to the house, from whom the name of the house, according to tradition, was derived. The original fresco paintings were made by Tobias Stimmer between 1568 and 1570. Overpainting in oil and further renovations took place in 1665, 1769, 1835, 1850, 1870 and 1918/19. During this last renovation by August Schmid and Christian Schmidt, the original paintings by Voucher were exposed again. These paintings are considered to be the most important Renaissance frescoes north of the Alps. In 1935 they were replaced and preserved. Ultimately, it was only possible to maintain it through its replacement , which was carried out in 1935 by the specialist Franco Steffanoni . They have since been exhibited in the All Saints' Day Museum. Today's paintings were recreated by Carl Roesch in 1938–39 and 1943 based on the originals. 1914 Remodeling including the neighboring house "Zum Hirschlein". 1941 expropriation through the city. 1942 Conversion of the basement to a shop. 1943/44 conversion of the residential floors. Today there is a pharmacy and perfumery on the ground floor with its star vault .

Content of the frescoes

The paintings show various personifications . Namely the Virtus above the nameplate “Zum Ritter” with the king for the state and the woman with miter for the church. These three people look to the right at the Gloria with a scepter and a globe at their feet. On the far right is the Immortale .

Above these figures you can see the coats of arms of the owners, as well as a triumphal march to the left and right of them.

Again above that one can see two scenes from Homer's Odyssey . On the left the arrival of Odysseus at the sorceress Kirke , who had turned his companions into pigs. On the right you can see the tree of the lotophages , from which Odysseus' companions eat. The tree is shaped like a woman.

Above it, a little hidden by the roof gable, you can see the master of the house, Knight Hans von Waldkirch with his dog, on the left, and on the far right you can see the painter himself, Tobias Stimmer.