Friday, 30 May 2025

The Painting On The Wall

PART of the story of Bregenz is told in external murals, known in this part of the world, especially Austria and Bavaria, as Lüftlmalerei.
This depicts the Battle of Bregenz in January 1408 when an alliance led by Habsburg nobles defeated a besieging Swiss army that was probably not expecting to be attacked in winter

An image of George and the Dragon, apparently (first) painted almost 500 years ago, shortly after the town was bought by the Habsburgs

I am on less-sure ground here, but this series of  murals seems to be highlighting that the Han von Bleydegg and von Heerliberg families, prominent in Bregenz in the 1500s and 1600s, "praised Jesus Christ" while also taking up arms 

Another view

The figure on the far left is St Christopher with the Christ Child, and next to him may be St Gall, who lived in the area as a hermit after accompanying St Columbanus to Bregenz in 611 - presumably the kneeling figure represents the citizens of the town, some of whose coats of arms are depicted, praying for divine help

This mural on the Kinz wine bar in the lower town was painted in 1897 and depicts Apollo driving the chariot of the sun

I suspect this mural, promoting a repair workshop in the lower town, is also relatively modern

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