German National Museum - Nuremberg

German National Museum

German national Museum here has huge collection of artifacts depicting German and Roman history, art and culture.  It was founded in 1852 and one of the largest museums in Europe. Paintings, tapestries, sculptures,  early Roman crockery, coat of arms bands all take visitors from pre-historic times to the current age. 

Most of these exhibits are excavated from burial sites. Pre-Christian Era Saxon tribes had custom of elaborate burials. Ancient German was occupied by Saxonic tribes who had in constant fights with Roman groups. In some cases local royals used to collect Roman artifacts which was considered luxury and matter of pride. Hence this museum has exhibits covering Roman culture as well as local Saxon culture.

Sculptures

Some of the sculptures date back to pre-historic times. They represent characters from Bible, royal families, churches,saints and sometimes even common people. Life sized sculptures are awe inspiring with detailed attention given to expression,, clothing etc. Material is mostly sandstone. International Gothic architecture is followed in most the art works. They are mainly made up of lime wood, sandstone, metals like bronze. They were used to decorate altar of the churches.

Enthroned holy bishop CE 1430

Depiction of Mary, the Mother of God, is one of the most important theme in Christian art. The type known as ‘enthroned Madonna’ dominated higher Middle Ages.

Enthroned Madonna 1430

Below sculpture depicts two characters from Bible greeting each other. Their unborn babies can be seen in abdominal cavities.

The Visitation (1425)

Below head of the figure comes from fountain in the Nuremberg market square.

The Troja head

Madonna

A Madonna is a representation of Mary, either alone or with her child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word is from Italian ma donna, meaning 'my lady'. The Madonna and Child type is very prevalent in Christian iconography.

Following art depicts Madonna with sacrificial angel from 1400 AD.

Below are some more arts of Madonna.

The figure below is ‘virgin and the child in the crescent moon’. Deep folds and bold perforations produce a sense of depth. There is a compelling presence to the body and head of the Christ child.

Large Cloisters

Cloister is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against a warm southern flank, usually indicates that it was once part of a monastic foundation.

In 1106, Carthusian monk order was formed. These monks used to live in cells around the church.

Below are some of the life size sculptures representing few monks.

Christ collapses under the cross

This scene shows remarkable talent of sculptor (Adam Kraft, 1490) for complex postures and three-dimentionality. Persons in the background appear in low releif, two front most figures project in the round from the stone.

This angel is dressed as a deacon (minister in a Catholic Church). He is singing and playing music, probably during biblical event.

The sculptural modelling of the knee and thigh perceptible under the drapery testify to the artistic quality.(CE 1500) 

Angel playing flute

Upper Arm bands were part of royal regalia of German kings. This particular piece, made of copper, is from CE 1152. This armilla has Crucifixion of Christ.

Armilla

Tapestries

Tapestry is a piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving coloured weft threads or by embroidering on canvas, used as a wall hanging or soft furnishing. Tapestries were woven in high warp and low warp looms, following pictorial prototypes. 

The themes for hangings were drawn from Bible and secular and religious literatures of the Middle Ages. They used to decorate the walls of the churches and monastries. Secular themes were used by nobles, upper class citizens.

During high Middle Ages silk and wools were mostly used for tapestries. They used to be imported from  Asia and Egypt. Also people started preferring Flemish tapestries (from Belgium) to local made tapestries.

Tapestries played major role in religious life. On high feast days they decorated the chapel,alter,walls,choir stalls in the churches. Themes from the lives of Christ, Mary and saints were used for feast days. There were even funeral tapestries, spread out for funeral masses.

This tapestry is wealth of figures brings together the motifs of Middle Ages courtly poetry. In a spacious garden couples are enjoying playing games, with erotic overtones.

Below tapestry ‘Castle of Love’ has motif of love. The castle had perfect setting for such activities and symbol of coveted woman.

Paintings

Motifs for the early painting were influenced from Italian trecento paintings. They had become popular in Austrian paintings since 1330. Following work depicts crucifixion of Christ (from 1430)

Following work depicts circumcision of Christ as per Jewish rituals after 8 days of birth.

According to the Jewish rituals Christ was presented to the priests in the temple 40 days after his birth.

Late Gothic Style Paintings

The years following 1450 saw Nuremberg becoming innovation center for German painting. Hans Playdenwuff who hailed from this region was the innovator of German paintings. Traditional pictorial themes and images were given greater dramatic effect. Individual figures and their actions move to the foreground. At the same time art becomes receptive to new approaches of nature and everyday reality.

Winged altarpiece developed in to elaborate pictorial machine with multiple folding panels.

Wings of the former High Altar (1500)

This high altar was last and largest pre-Reformation altar donated by some family in Nuremberg. The interior wings show the scenes from life of virgin Mary, Meeting at the Golden gate, birth, presentation at the temple etc. Exterior is taken up by large lamentation of Christ. 

Reliquary 

Reliquary is a container in which relics (actual physical objects such as head, bones etc of a saint, which were considered holy)  are kept. They were everyday part of the Christian life. They were worshiped by believers.

Below is the reliquary from CE 1300, made of wood and cooper plates, enameled and gilded. It has a characteristic form of a house with saddleback roof. On the cover two angels are holding the image of St.Saturnin, from Toulouse, France. It had probably had his head in it sometime.

Bronze was extensively used for most of the objects in churches, which would not come into contact with bread and wine. Candlesticks, censers and relics were made out of bronze.

Candlesticks

Most of the candlesticks of the high Middle Ages have survived in the churches. They were placed upon the altar. They had 3 short legs and base was decorated.

Book Cases

Books were protected using book chests. This has book cover design at the front side.

Artifacts from Egypt

During first millennium, before the invasion by Islam, Egypt was ruled by Byzantine empire. They had highly sophisticated culture and their objects made to Europe via trade routes and gifts.

Jewellery from Byzantine imperial family was a model for the upper class women’s costumes in Western Europe. They were imported and imitated.

Gold ornaments from Byzantine empire, Egypt from CE 1241. Magnificent earrings are testimony to goldsmiths skills at that period.

Stoves

In the 17th century, Winterthurer town was important centre for the  manufacturing of ceramic tile stoves. They were highly decorated. Below object is from CE 1700.

Table Clock

Brass table clock (CE 1430) belonged to the Duke of Burgundy. This is spring driven clock with wheel work. The striking and gear trains are housed in a case whose design is borrowed from Gothic cathedrals.

New script

An important innovation during Carolingian period in 9th century was creation of uniform script called minuscule script. Characteristics of this script is lower case letters which were not known in classical script of antiquity. 

Water trough (CE 1400)

water supply to the cells of the monks in monastery was exemplary. Pipes were drawn to each cell with running water. 

Armchair (CE 1500)

Though it looks like a simple armchair at first glance, carving of the decoration points to a degree of sophistication. They were reserved almost exclusively for high ranking officials.

Other furnitures

In line with vogue with Chinoiserie, new methods were developed for imitation of Asian lacquered furniture. In this cabinet, hand colored engravings were glued on polychrome lacquer(wood finish) ground and then covered with varnish.

Flight of the holy family into Egypt (CE 1500)

Angels push down a palm branch, allowing Joseph to reach the fruit, which is eaten by Mary and her child. This is mentioned in Legend of the Area.

Luxurious writing desk (CE 1700, oak, pine and various partly stained woods, copper)

Mirrors

Below are mirrors in various forms.

Musical instrument harpsichord 

In the baroque period (style of architecture from 17th to mid 18th century, highly ornate and extravagant in nature), music made royal power audible and thus played a central role in courtly culture. In this sense, even the stand of the harpsichord speaks of social status. The sound, penetrating and brilliant provided the harmonic foundation for singers and instrumental music.

Ship as table centerpiece (CE 1500, silver)

During 15th century, after renaissance, radical changes had taken place in Europe. It inspired flowering of arts and sciences. During these times, along with Portugal and Spain, wealthy elites of large southern German commercial cities also invested in expeditions.Their intention was to open new routes to Asia. In this context, ornamental vessels in the shape of ships were commonly displayed in wealthy families.
With almost perfect attention to details, goldsmith has reproduced a three mastered carrack, most common type of merchant vessel of the period. Primarily it is an elaborate table center piece , with which owner likes to demonstrate his social status and wealth.

Painting and sculptures from Swabia and Augsburg

By late Middle Ages, Swabia had become a flowering artistic center. Well organised workshops produced art work of highest quality. Sculptors and painters were involved in exporting artwork to neighboring countries. Below are few works from that period.

Deceased on his death bed

Below picture (oil on canvas) is life sized painting of deceased Bartholomaus Viatis (1573 - 1644) belonging to some wealthy merchant family. This painting is one of seven in series, of same family. 

Inscription includes brief biography of deceased.

Putto in armor

Young boy from warrior family is depicted.

Head of John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist, (born 1st decade bce, Judaea, Palestine, near Jerusalem—died 28–36 ce; feast day June 24), Jewish prophet of priestly origin who preached the imminence of God's Final Judgment. France’s Amiens Cathedral contains a preserved skull (facial bone sans lower jaw) which is supposedly that of famed prophet John the Baptist since 1206. Saints severed head is venerated. These two are sculptures of severed head by two different artists. Broken gaze, opened mouth all testify artists endeavour to bring greatest realism to the work.

Resplendent Church Services

Even after the Reformation (which was a religious change instigated in 1517 by Protestants who wished to reform the Catholic Church) the Catholic church adhered to a high degree of pomp and ceremony.  The opulent decoration of sacred building was means for counter Reformation renewal. Emotionally charged paintings and sculptures adorned the altars and interiors of churches. Magnificent church furnishings, articles for church service and processions were designed in the same dramatic vein. 

Few such church rooms were transferred to the museum as those church buildings paved way for government offices in early 1900.

Scientific instrument section

Since the late Middle Ages natural phenomena had been measured using instruments that have become increasingly specialised. Such scientific instruments represent best precision engineering and craftsmanship. 

Time and space are the greatest challenges in measurement. Mechanical clock was invented around 1300 to measure time, this being followed by inventions in many types of clockwork movements and cases. All dimensions of spacial measurement had to be done be it outer space or mining tunnels. Since 17th century microscope and telescopes were invented.

During 15th century printed maps and painted globes were developed. This was driven by expeditions of sailors to find new lands and there by opening new ideas.

These were some of the instruments at display.

1. Sundials (horizontal and vertical)

2. Mechanical clocks

3. Mine surveying instruments 

4. Compass,rulers, calenders

Mechanical clocks were invented in 13th century. They were first found in monasteries and large churches.  Power is supplied by gravity (weight driven) and energy stored in springs. Among the innovations of early modern age were development of pocket watch (ca 1520), pendulum clock (ca 1670) and addition of seconds hand in 18th century.

Calendars were based on movement of sun, moon and stars. Initially Calendaria in Rome was list of debtors that had to be updated monthly. Later every written or pictorial concept which organised mans everyday life , into days, months and year, into order was given this name.

Slide rules and calculators were developed from mid 17th century on. In 1670 John Napier developed tool for multiplication and division which consists of vertical rods placed next to one another. (Napier bones).

Below are some pictures of scientific instruments.