Heiliggeistkirche (Munich)
Encyclopedia
Heiliggeistkirche is a Gothic
hall church
in Munich
, southern Germany
, originally belonging to the Hospice of the Holy Ghost (14th century). It was remodeled in 1724-30 by Johann Georg Ettenhofer (vaults, renovation of pillars); in the interior are Rococo
fresco
es and stucco ornament by the Asam brothers. After the demolition of the hospice buildings in 1885, Franz Lšwel added three bays at the west end of the church and gave it a Neo-Baroque facade. The church suffered severe damage during World War II
and its interior furnishings were largely destroyed; extensive rebuilding and restoration was carried out after the war.
Of the original Gothic church only the choir buttresses and the north wall of the nave
remain.
The tower (1730) has a lantern dome of characteristic Munich type. The Neo-Baroque facade shows use of elements borrowed from Viscardi's Trinity Church.
The interior is aisled, with an ambulatory
round the choir. The nave is barrel-vaulted, with small vaults over the windows. The aisles have groined vaulting.
Among several items of art-historical interest in the church are: in the portico, to left and right of the main entrance, parts of a bronze memorial made in 1608 by Hans Krumpper
for Duke Ferdinand of Bavaria, Infante of Spain; in the chancel
, the high altar by Nikolaus Stuber (1730), with an altarpiece
by Ulrich Loth depicting The Effusion of the Holy Ghost (1661) and two flanking figures of angels by Johann Georg Greiff (1729); in the right aisle, a series of wall paintings (1725) by Peter Horeman illustrating the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit; in the Kreuzkapelle, a late Gothic crucifix
(1510); and, midway along the left aisle, an altar with an allegedly miraculous image of the Hammerthaler Madonna (15th century).
The interior of the church was renovated in 1991.
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
hall church
Hall church
A hall church is a church with nave and side aisles of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. The term was first coined in the mid-19th century by the pioneering German art historian Wilhelm Lübke....
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...
, southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, originally belonging to the Hospice of the Holy Ghost (14th century). It was remodeled in 1724-30 by Johann Georg Ettenhofer (vaults, renovation of pillars); in the interior are Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
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 and stucco ornament by the Asam brothers. After the demolition of the hospice buildings in 1885, Franz Lšwel added three bays at the west end of the church and gave it a Neo-Baroque facade. The church suffered severe damage during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and its interior furnishings were largely destroyed; extensive rebuilding and restoration was carried out after the war.
Of the original Gothic church only the choir buttresses and the north wall of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
remain.
The tower (1730) has a lantern dome of characteristic Munich type. The Neo-Baroque facade shows use of elements borrowed from Viscardi's Trinity Church.
The interior is aisled, with an ambulatory
Ambulatory
The ambulatory is the covered passage around a cloister. The term is sometimes applied to the procession way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar....
round the choir. The nave is barrel-vaulted, with small vaults over the windows. The aisles have groined vaulting.
Among several items of art-historical interest in the church are: in the portico, to left and right of the main entrance, parts of a bronze memorial made in 1608 by Hans Krumpper
Hans Krumpper
Hans Krumpper was a German sculptor, plasterer, architect and intendant of the arts who served the Bavarian dukes William V...
for Duke Ferdinand of Bavaria, Infante of Spain; in the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, the high altar by Nikolaus Stuber (1730), with an altarpiece
Altarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
by Ulrich Loth depicting The Effusion of the Holy Ghost (1661) and two flanking figures of angels by Johann Georg Greiff (1729); in the right aisle, a series of wall paintings (1725) by Peter Horeman illustrating the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit; in the Kreuzkapelle, a late Gothic crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
(1510); and, midway along the left aisle, an altar with an allegedly miraculous image of the Hammerthaler Madonna (15th century).
The interior of the church was renovated in 1991.