Theodor Schnell the Elder

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Former "Atelier for Christian Art" by Theodor Schnell in Ravensburg

Theodor Schnell the Elder (born October 15, 1836 in Rottenburg am Neckar , † March 23, 1909 in Ravensburg ) was a German sculptor and church decorator of historicism , who was mainly active in southern Upper Swabia and Switzerland.

Life

Schnell was the head of equipment for the neo-Gothic renovation of Hohenzollern Castle . Around 1863 he settled in Ravensburg , as he was promising better business success in Catholic Upper Swabia than in the predominantly Protestant center of Württemberg , and there he married his wife, whom he had already met in Rottenburg. In 1864 he founded a “Atelier for Christian Art” on Pfannenstiel in Ravensburg, in the immediate vicinity of the southern railway line , which was advantageous for the transport of high altars and other larger works.

Side altar of the parish church of St. Jodok, Ravensburg

The first church furnishings were created for churches in the Ravensburg area, including the parish churches of Schlier , Schmalegg , Horgenzell , Ebenweiler , Oberteuringen and Ettenkirch . He also supplied furnishings for the parish church in Riedlingen , the cathedral in his home town of Rottenburg am Neckar and a church in Zurich . From 1867 he made three filigree neo-Gothic altars and an intricately carved wooden ceiling for the Ravensburg parish church of St. Jodok.

Moriz Schlachter did an apprenticeship in Schnell's studio and went to Munich for further training, which was considered a capital of neo-Gothic altar construction. Later he opened his own studio in Ravensburg. Schnell's youngest son Theodor Schnell d. J. also received initial suggestions in his father's workshop and went to Stuttgart to complete his studies .

In 1891 Theodor Schnell d. J. joined the family business and immediately took over the artistic lead, in 1901 he officially took over the business. The atelier also increasingly delivered nationwide, including to Switzerland . After several strokes, which severely impaired his creativity, Theodor Schnell died. Ä. 1909 in Ravensburg.

Works

(Selection)

  • Three altars , parish church St. Martin, Schlier , around 1863
  • High altar , side altars and wooden ceiling , parish church St. Jodok, Ravensburg, from 1864 (destroyed, figure of St. Jodok preserved)
  • Choir stalls (1878), parish and pilgrimage church of the Birth of Mary, Amtzell-Pfärrich (preserved, there also preserved works by Schnells' workshop from the time after the entry of his son Theodor Schnell the Younger: pulpit from 1893 and predella reliefs Death of Joseph and house Nazareth from 1900)
  • High altar , parish church St. Urban, Ebenweiler , 1882 (preserved)
  • High altar , parish church of St. Peter and Paul , Zurich-Aussersihl, 1884 (preserved)
  • Stations of the Cross and Mount of Olives Group , "Kreuzberg" at the main cemetery, Ravensburg, 1886–1889 (preserved)
  • Side altars and pulpit , parish church of St. Petrus and Paulus, Friedrichshafen- Ettenkirch (destroyed, figures preserved)
  • High altar , St. Georg chapel, Oberteuringen- Neuhaus (preserved)
  • Altar , chapel of the Mosisgreut manor, Vogt (preserved, only accessible for events)
  • Cross altar in the art collection of the city of Ravensburg (preserved, not exhibited)
  • Altar fragments in the art collection of the city of Ravensburg (preserved, not exhibited)
  • Altars and other items of furniture for the parish churches in Berg , Schmalegg , Horgenzell , Oberteuringen , the parish church of St. Georg in Riedlingen , the collegiate church of St. Moriz in Rottenburg am Neckar and the Neutann hospital near Wolfegg

literature

  • Ralf Reiter: From historicism to modernity. The sacred art of the Ravensburger Werkstätte Theodor Schnell. 1864 to 1938 , in: In the Oberland. Issue 1/2011, pp. 21-29
  • Ralf Reiter: Ravensburg as a center of church art production in historicism, art nouveau and the beginning modern. The sculptors Theodor Schnell d. Ä., Theodor Schnell d. J. and Moriz Schlachter . In: Ulm and Upper Swabia. Magazine for history, art and culture . Vol. 58 (2013), ISBN 978-3-7995-8048-9 , pp. 387–437 (with catalog raisonné)

Web links

Commons : Theodor Schnell the Elder  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Death register StA Ravensburg, No. 65/1909
personal data
SURNAME Quick, Theodore the Elder
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Quick, Theodor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German sculptor and church decorator
DATE OF BIRTH October 15, 1836
PLACE OF BIRTH Rottenburg am Neckar
DATE OF DEATH March 23, 1909
Place of death Ravensburg