eclectic imaging
Michaelsberg Abbey, Bamberg: Ceiling
Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 21 October 2009 in Architecture and Portfolio.
This herbarium of heaven on St. Michael's ceiling depicts almost 600 different plants and a few birds. In nave, aisles, transept, crossing and western gallery you can find 580 plants, including exotic ones, like pineapple, cotton, pomegranate, or tobacco. But also locals like apple, pear, blackberry, and beech. Four painters finished the nave paintings in 1617, the paintings in the aisles were finished in the 18th century.
An interesting fact is that even plants which were relatively new to Europeans can be found on the ceiling, for example lilac, jasmine, and laburnum. Almost all plants are carrying fruits of blossoms. Errors in the depiction are very rare, only the flower of the bean is yellow (and not white).
There are certain emphases in the layout of the plants, probably arranged after the then known hierarchies introduced by Albertus Magnus. Transept and crossing are presenting trees and shrubs, the nave displays fruit trees. The aisles predominantly show flowers with distinctive blooms, like daffodils and gentian.
Download my coffee-table book of selected postings here. Enjoy!
Canon EOS 40D
3/5 seconds
F/10.0
ISO 100
10 mm