Purification of the Virgin (Steinheim)
The Catholic parish church of Mariäreinigung in Steinheim , a district of Dillingen an der Donau in the Bavarian administrative district of Swabia , still has components from around 1200. After several renovations and extensions, it was enlarged for the last time in 1775. The furnishings in the Rococo style with rich stucco decoration and sculptures by the Dillingen sculptor Johann Michael Fischer date from this period . The altarpieces and ceiling frescoes were made by Matthäus Günther .
location
The church is located in the middle of the former village in an originally fortified cemetery .
history
Steinheim was first mentioned in writing in a deed of donation in 1135, when the 1118 of Margrave Diepold III. Benedictine monastery Reichenbach founded by Vohburg was equipped with goods in Steinheim. This property, to which the church belonged, was confirmed to the monastery by the emperor in 1182 . The Reichenbach monastery in Steinheim set up a provost office to manage its remote estates. In 1556 Steinheim joined the Reformation like the Reichenbach Monastery and was Protestant until 1616. In the course of the Counter Reformation , Steinheim came into the possession of the Augsburg bishopric , to which it belonged until secularization .
A first church, of which the lower storey of the tower and parts of the south wall of the nave are still preserved, was built around 1200. A reconstruction plan is documented for 1507, which provided for an extension of the choir and an elevation of the tower by two floors. In 1689 two octagonal storeys were added to the tower after being damaged by a lightning strike . As can be deduced from invoices in the parish archives, the north wall of the nave and the east gable were built in 1713 and the two sacristy buildings between the tower and the east wall and on the south side were added. In 1765 the tower hood was renewed after storm damage and in 1775 the church was extended by seven meters to the west. It is believed that the walls were raised and the windows enlarged.
Patronage
The parish church of Steinheim was probably first consecrated to the Archangel Michael . In the late Middle Ages , the apostles Peter and Paul were venerated as patrons of the Church. Under the influence of a brotherhood of Mary , the patronage of the Purification of the Virgin (also called Candlemas ) replaced the previous patrons in the baroque period . Mary's Candlemas is remembered for the cleansing sacrifice of Mary and the offering of Jesus in the temple, which according to Jewish tradition were prescribed on the 40th day after the birth of a boy.
architecture
Exterior construction
In the northern corner of the choir rises the eight- story tower covered with an onion dome, the lower six square floors of which are divided by cornices . The four lower floors of the tower with two meter thick masonry are made of limestone blocks, the upper floors and the nave are made of ashlar and quarry stone masonry .
The east gable is designed with scroll volutes and divided by four pronounced cornices. Five quatrefoil and two basket arch windows break through the facade. In the middle of the third cornice there is an elevator beam, and the year 1713 is on the top gable .
inner space
The single nave church interior is divided into five axes. The arched choir arch is followed by a drawn-in, just closed choir, which is spanned by a hollow vault over hanging gussets . The full width of the south side of the choir is open to an extension with a gallery .
The nave is covered with a flat ceiling over a hollow , with stitch caps over the windows. The walls are structured by pilasters with ornate capitals . A double gallery forms the western end, the upper gallery carries the organ prospect .
Stucco and ceiling paintings
The stucco decor with shellwork and cartouches was made by Bartholomäus Hoiß in 1775/76 . Frescoes and windows are framed by stucco profile frames. A cartouche above the choir arch, held by two angels, bears the coat of arms of Clemens Wenzeslaus of Saxony , the last prince-bishop of Augsburg.
The ceiling paintings date from 1776 and were created by Matthäus Günther , director of the Imperial City Art Academy in Augsburg . On the ceiling fresco of the nave above the organ gallery, the first patron of the church, the Archangel Michael fighting against Lucifer, is shown. The subject of the opposite scene in the direction of the choir is the capture of the former patrons Peter and Paul. The side scenes show her martyrdom : Peter is crucified upside down and Paul is beheaded. In the middle of the nave fresco, Mary is shown with the baby Jesus in her arms and standing on clouds, next to her Peter and Paul. In the southwest corner is the painter's signature: “M. Gündter pinxit ”(M. Gündter painted it). The four occidental church fathers Ambrosius , Augustine , Hieronymus and Pope Gregory I are depicted in yellow tones in the vaulting .
The ceiling fresco above the choir is dedicated to today's patronage of the church and has the depiction of the Lord as its theme. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the temple, who is taken in Simeon's arms. The prophetess Hannah bends over the child.
Furnishing
The main and side altars date from 1776/77. The high altar painting by Matthäus Günther depicts Mary as a crescent moon Madonna , "clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, a wreath of twelve stars on her head", as she is described in the Revelation of John . The two sculptures, Peter with his keys and Paul with his sword, are works by Johann Michael Fischer. The left altarpiece shows Mary, who is taught the Bible by her mother Anna . The right altarpiece shows the martyrdom of St. Sebastian .
The pulpit was made in 1776 with sculptures by Johann Michael Fischer. The four evangelists are represented by their symbols on the sound cover . He is crowned by an angel with tablets of the law. At the lower edge of the pulpit sit angels putti with the attributes for faith (cross), love (heart), hope (anchor).
The baptismal font , a polygonally broken limestone chalice on a pyramidal base, dates from the early 16th century. The carving of the baptism of Jesus on the wooden lid was created in 1776 by Johann Michael Fischer.
organ
In 1982, a new organ from the Sandtner company was installed in the baroque organ case, in which carvings by Johann Michael Fischer have been preserved .
literature
- The art monuments of the district of Dillingen an der Donau , edited by Werner Meyer, in the series: The art monuments of Bavaria. The art monuments of Swabia. Vol. VII. District of Dillingen on the Danube . Munich 1972, ISBN 3-486-43541-8 , pp. 873-881.
- Xaver Käser: Short guide through the parish church of Mariäreinigung Steinheim . no year
- Georg Wörishofer, Alfred Sigg, Reinhard H. Seitz: Cities, Markets and Communities . In: The district of Dillingen ad Donau in the past and present . Ed. from the district of Dillingen an der Donau, 3rd revised edition, Dillingen an der Donau 2005, pp. 240–241.
Web links
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 48 ° 35 ′ 46.4 ″ N , 10 ° 32 ′ 18 ″ E