Asamkirche
Among the ostentatious rococo ornamentation of this church, an image of death cuts the life-thread.
Death cutting the life-thread theqspeaks/Flickr (Creative Commons)
The Asam brothers, Egid Quirin Asam and Cosmas Damian Asam, were Baroque masters, but nowhere were their rococo tastes so lavish as in their own private chapel.
Officially called the Church of Saint Johann Nepomuk, the church is better known as Asamkirche (or Asam Church) in their honor. It was built between 1733 and 1746, and was intended to be their own gilded spiritual retreat, but the public wanted in. Eventually it opened to all.
Lurking among the gold, grinning cherubs, mosaics, and frescoes is one particularly ominous sight. A gilded sculpture near the entrance portal shows a skeletal image of death with scissors about to cut through the life-thread of a poor soul. It’s an incredibly detailed memento mori among the ornamentation.
Stay in Touch!
Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day.
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Follow Us on Instagram
No Thanks
Visit AtlasObscura.com
No purchase necessary. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2021. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Offer subject to change without notice. See contest rules for full details.
Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.
Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.
Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook