Franz Joseph Spiegler
Encyclopedia
Franz Joseph Spiegler was a German Baroque
painter
. He is best known for his fresco
es, which decorate many of the churches and monasteries along the Upper Swabian Baroque Route
. The frescoes in the Zwiefalten Abbey
are considered his masterpiece.
Spiegler was born the Free Imperial City
of Wangen im Allgäu
, the son of a district court attorney. After the death of his father in 1692, his mother married the painter Adam Joseph Dollmann, a member of an old patrician family in Wangen. This was Spiegler's introduction to the arts. Around 1710 Spiegler began training as a painter in Munich
under the tutelage of his great-uncle, the Bavaria
n court painter
Johann Kaspar Sing. During the course of his studies, Spiegler also became acquainted with the historical painting in vogue with the Dutch painters
of the time. From 1723 to 1725 Spiegler painted frescoes in the Ottobeuren Abbey
that show the strong influence of the Italian painter Jacopo Amigoni
(1682–1752). Later he also created frescoes and oil painting
s for numerous monasteries, churches, and castles in the regions of Upper Swabia
, Lake Constance
, the Black Forest
, and the Upper Rhine
. In 1757 Spiegler died in Konstanz
.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. He is best known for his fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es, which decorate many of the churches and monasteries along the Upper Swabian Baroque Route
Upper Swabian Baroque Route
The Upper Swabian Baroque Route is a touristic theme route through Upper Swabia, following the themes of "nature, culture, baroque". The route has a length of about 500 km . It was established in 1966, being one of the first theme routes in Germany...
. The frescoes in the Zwiefalten Abbey
Zwiefalten Abbey
- References :...
are considered his masterpiece.
Spiegler was born the Free Imperial City
Free Imperial City
In the Holy Roman Empire, a free imperial city was a city formally ruled by the emperor only — as opposed to the majority of cities in the Empire, which were governed by one of the many princes of the Empire, such as dukes or prince-bishops...
of Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu is a historic city in southeast Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It lies north-east of Lake Constance in the Westallgäu. It is the second-largest city in the Ravensburg district and is a nexus for the surrounding communities...
, the son of a district court attorney. After the death of his father in 1692, his mother married the painter Adam Joseph Dollmann, a member of an old patrician family in Wangen. This was Spiegler's introduction to the arts. Around 1710 Spiegler began training as a painter in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
under the tutelage of his great-uncle, the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n court painter
Court painter
A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or noble family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Especially in the late Middle Ages, they were often given the office of valet de chambre...
Johann Kaspar Sing. During the course of his studies, Spiegler also became acquainted with the historical painting in vogue with the Dutch painters
Dutch Golden Age painting
Dutch Golden Age painting is the painting of the Dutch Golden Age, a period in Dutch history generally spanning the 17th century, during and after the later part of the Eighty Years War for Dutch independence. The new Dutch Republic was the most prosperous nation in Europe, and led European trade,...
of the time. From 1723 to 1725 Spiegler painted frescoes in the Ottobeuren Abbey
Ottobeuren Abbey
Ottobeuren is a Benedictine abbey, located in Ottobeuren, near Memmingen in the Bavarian Allgäu, Germany.-First foundation:It was founded in 764 by Blessed Toto, and dedicated to St. Alexander, the martyr. Of its early history little is known beyond the fact that Toto, its first abbot, died about...
that show the strong influence of the Italian painter Jacopo Amigoni
Jacopo Amigoni
Jacopo Amigoni , also named Giacomo Amiconi, was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque or Rococo period, who began his career in Venice, but traveled and was prolific throughout Europe, where his sumptuous portraits were much in demand....
(1682–1752). Later he also created frescoes and oil painting
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
s for numerous monasteries, churches, and castles in the regions of Upper Swabia
Upper Swabia
Upper Swabia is a region in Germany in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The name refers to the area between the Swabian Alb, Lake Constance and the Lech...
, Lake Constance
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
, the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
, and the Upper Rhine
Upper Rhine
The Upper Rhine is the section of the Rhine in the Upper Rhine Plain between Basel, Switzerland and Bingen, Germany. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometers 170 to 529 ....
. In 1757 Spiegler died in Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
.
Major works
Baden-Württemberg
- AltheimAltheim-Places:*in Germany:**Altheim, Biberach, a municipality in the district of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg**Altheim , a municipality in the district of Alb-Donau, Baden-Württemberg**Altheim , a municipality in the district of Alb-Donau, Baden-Württemberg...
(near RiedlingenRiedlingenRiedlingen is a town in the district of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, in the south-west of Germany. It is one of the destinations of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. There are ca. 10,000 inhabitants.- Geography :...
)—Parish Church of St. Martin (1747) (frescoes and three oil paintings) - Bad SäckingenBad SäckingenBad Säckingen is a rural town in the administrative district of Waldshut in the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany. It is famous as the "Trumpeteer's City" because of the book "The Trumpeteer of Säckingen", a famous 19th century novel by German author Joseph Victor von Scheffel.- Geography :Bad...
—Covent Church of St. Fridolin (1753–1754) (frescoes) - BonndorfBonndorfBonndorf is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the southern Black Forest, 14 km southeast of Titisee-Neustadt. It comprises the villages Boll, Brunnadern, Dillendorf, Ebnet, Gündelwangen, Holzschlag, Wellendingen and Wittlekofen. The town is...
— Schloss Bonndorf (1726) (fresco) - Gossenzugen—Chapel (ca. 1749) (frescoes)
- KonstanzKonstanzKonstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
—Augustinian Church of the Holy Trinity (Dreifaltigkeitskirche) (1740) (frescoes) - MainauMainauMainau is an island in Lake Constance . It is maintained as a garden island and a model of excellent environmental practices...
—Castle chapel (1737–1738) (frescoes) - MerdingenMerdingenMerdingen is a town in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Merdingen's main industry are vineyards. Jan Ullrich was a notable resident until 2002....
—Parish Church of St. Remigius (1739–1741) (frescoes and altar paintings) - Mochental—Castle chapel (1734) (fresco)
- St. Peter im Schwarzwald—St. Peter's Abbey in the Black ForestSt. Peter's Abbey in the Black ForestSt Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest or St. Peter's Abbey, Schwarzwald is a former Benedictine monastery in the village of St. Peter im Schwarzwald, in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-History:...
(1727; 1739) (frescoes) - SalemSalem, BodenseeSalem is a municipality in the Bodensee district of Baden-Württemberg in Southern Germany, located 9 km north of Lake Constance, with a population of c. 11,000.-Culture and sights:...
—Cistercian Abbey ChurchSalem AbbeySalem Abbey , also known as Salmansweiler and in Latin as Salomonis Villa, was a very prominent Cistercian monastery in Salem in the district of Bodensee about ten miles from Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-Abbey:The abbey was founded in 1136 by Gunthram of Adelsreute Salem Abbey (Kloster or...
(1730) (ceiling frescoes in the transepts and the organ loft) - StühlingenStühlingenStühlingen is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the border with Switzerland, with a border crossing to the village of Oberwiesen in Schleitheim municipality, 15 km northwest of Schaffhausen town....
—Monastery Church of Maria Loreto (1740–1741) (four side altar paintings and upper galleries) - UntersulmetingenLaupheimLaupheim is a city in southern Germany in the state of Baden Württemberg. Laupheim was first mentioned in 778 and gained its city rights in 1869. One of the main trading routes, from Ulm to Ravensburg and then on towards Lake Constance ran through Laupheim...
—Chapel in Schloss Untersulmetingen (frescoes and oil paintings) - WeingartenWeingarten (Württemberg)Weingarten is a town with a population of 24,000 in Württemberg, in the District of Ravensburg, in the valley of the Schussen River. Together with the southern neighbour cities of Ravensburg and Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance , it forms one of 14 medium-sized infrastructural centres in...
—Benedictine Monastery Church of St. Martin of Tours and St. OswaldWeingarten AbbeyWeingarten Abbey or St. Martin's Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on the Martinsberg in Weingarten near Ravensburg in Baden-Württemberg .-First foundation:...
(1783) (oil painting on side altar) - ZwiefaltenZwiefaltenZwiefalten is a municipality in the district of Reutlingen, located halfway between Stuttgart and Lake Constance. The former Zwiefalten Abbey dominates the town...
—Zwiefalten MünsterZwiefalten Abbey- References :...
(1728–1729; 1747–1753) (frescoes)
Bavaria
- HergatzHergatzHergatz is a municipality in the district of Lindau in Bavaria in Germany. The contemporary town was formed from the former municipals of Wohmbrechts and Maria-Thann in the course of the municipal reform at the end of the 70s.-Geografie:...
—Parish Church of Maria Thann (1722–1723) (frescoes) - LindauLindauLindau is a Bavarian town and an island on the eastern side of Lake Constance, the Bodensee. It is the capital of the Landkreis or rural district of Lindau. The historic city of Lindau is located on an island which is connected with the mainland by bridge and railway.- History :The name Lindau was...
—Cathedral "Unserer Lieben Frau" (1736) (fresco) - OttobeurenOttobeurenOttobeuren is a municipality in Bavaria, Germany, located 10 km southeast of Memmingen near the A7. It is famous for Ottobeuren Abbey, situated next to the Basilica....
—Benedictine Monastery Church of the Holy TrinityOttobeuren AbbeyOttobeuren is a Benedictine abbey, located in Ottobeuren, near Memmingen in the Bavarian Allgäu, Germany.-First foundation:It was founded in 764 by Blessed Toto, and dedicated to St. Alexander, the martyr. Of its early history little is known beyond the fact that Toto, its first abbot, died about...
and monastery buildings (1723–1725) (frescoes in the corridors and stairways and in the secret archives of the abbotAbbotThe word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, the ceiling fresco of ComedyComedyComedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
and TragedyTragedyTragedy is a form of art based on human suffering that offers its audience pleasure. While most cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of...
in the theater)
Switzerland
- MuriMuriMuri, Formerly known as Muri , is a municipality in southeastern Swiss Canton Aargau and is the capital of same district. The present municipality of Muri was created in 1816 from the merging of the four municipalities Langdorf, Egg, Hasli and Wey....
—Benedictine Abbey of St. Martin of ToursMuri AbbeyMuri Abbey was a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. It flourished for over eight centuries at Muri, in the Canton of Aargau, near Basle in Switzerland...
(1746) (five oil paintings for the high altar and side altar paintings)