Other Works
of Art in the Cloister
1. Holy Virgin: Life Scenes by Peter Maggenberg
Found in 1927 under a painting of the 17th century, the scenes depicting the life cycle of the Holy Virgin were detached from their support and restored according the knowhow of that period permitting numerous reconstitutions. Several coats of arms are represented on the frames and bear witness to donators, above all the Praroman and Bugniet families.
Adoration of the Magi
Peter Maggenberg, born in Tafers (FR) towards 1380 and deceased towards 1462/1463, was active over a long period in the town of Fribourg as official painter, but also in Sion where several works of art, realised between 1434 and 1437, are preserved in the basilica of Valeria.
Nativity, detail
Annunciation, detail
The international gothic style of Maggenberg’s art is marked by elegant figures and soft outlines. In all his works the painter pays particular attention to the objects of daily life which he depicts in great detail.
The Marriage of the Holy Virgin
His style mixes Germanic and Italian traits, the latter are particularly visible in the architectural elements of this picture. Maggenberg probably painted the five scenes of the life cycle of the Virgin Mary in 1440.
The high-priest Heli with Samuel and the birth of Holy Mary
2. Dance of Death by Pierre Wuilleret
Between 1606 and 1608, the painter Pierre Wuilleret decorated the cloister with 17 scenes illustrating the topic of the dance of death. The paintings were destroyed in 1927 in order to expose the works by Peter Maggenberg. A few fragments still visible in the cloister were preserved.
Remaining fragment of the scene with bishop and abbot.
Death appears behind the left shoulder of the ecclesiastic
Before the destruction of the paintings gouache copies were made by Father Maurice Moullet.
Here the scene of the bishop and the abbot
3. Crucifix and Holy Mary-Magdalene
The Christ, created towards 1505, is attributed to the Fribourg sculptor, called the “Master of the Big Noses”. At Christ’s feet kneels Mary-Magdalene (dated from the end of the 16th century). Together with other sculptures, these two figures formed a Calvary placed at the entry of the monastic cemetery.
Crucifix and Holy Mary-Magdalene