DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62133#0183
CONSECRATION OF THE BASILICA.
167
have spoken. These represent twelve principal incidents from
his life; commencing with his reception as a child among
the Benedictine monks, and his departure from England to
Germany upon his perilous mission,—and ending with his
martyrdom in Friesland, and his burial in the Abbey of
Fulda. The lesser events are told in smaller designs alter-
nating with the large frescoes, and are painted in grey on
a blue ground, so managed as to suggest sky. Many of
these smaller designs are peculiarly beautifulj they are in
octagonal compartments, and are surrounded by graceful
arabesques of crimson, green, gold, and lilac, on a deep
chocolate ground. Below the frescoes illustrative of the
life of St. Boniface, is a series of medallion heads of the
Popes; and above the frescoes, alternating with the round-
arched windows, and painted on a gold ground, are groups
of saints and martyrs who lived and suffered for the propa-
gation of Christianity in Germany. The effect of this
centre nave is that of a gorgeous and solemn missal.
The walls of the church are a mosaic of rich marbles :—
dark greens—dull, ruddy browns and reds—and delicate
greys and lilacs. Opposite the side altars, and to the right
and left as you enter the church by the side doors, are two
little chapels—the chapel for baptism and the chapel for
burial. A peculiar simplicity, solemnity, and dignity
characterise the whole edifice.
The ceremony of consecration was to commence, we
understood, at half-past seven o’clock in the morning.
Long streaks of golden and pale pink light from the newly-
risen sun stretched athwart a sombre grey sky, as we set
out towards the church, and wonderfully enhanced the
beauty of the Pinakothek and Glyptothek, which we passed
on our way to the Basilica : the Basilica and the monastery
attached to it being only separated by a wall from the
beautiful white marble temple which faces the Glyptothek,
167
have spoken. These represent twelve principal incidents from
his life; commencing with his reception as a child among
the Benedictine monks, and his departure from England to
Germany upon his perilous mission,—and ending with his
martyrdom in Friesland, and his burial in the Abbey of
Fulda. The lesser events are told in smaller designs alter-
nating with the large frescoes, and are painted in grey on
a blue ground, so managed as to suggest sky. Many of
these smaller designs are peculiarly beautifulj they are in
octagonal compartments, and are surrounded by graceful
arabesques of crimson, green, gold, and lilac, on a deep
chocolate ground. Below the frescoes illustrative of the
life of St. Boniface, is a series of medallion heads of the
Popes; and above the frescoes, alternating with the round-
arched windows, and painted on a gold ground, are groups
of saints and martyrs who lived and suffered for the propa-
gation of Christianity in Germany. The effect of this
centre nave is that of a gorgeous and solemn missal.
The walls of the church are a mosaic of rich marbles :—
dark greens—dull, ruddy browns and reds—and delicate
greys and lilacs. Opposite the side altars, and to the right
and left as you enter the church by the side doors, are two
little chapels—the chapel for baptism and the chapel for
burial. A peculiar simplicity, solemnity, and dignity
characterise the whole edifice.
The ceremony of consecration was to commence, we
understood, at half-past seven o’clock in the morning.
Long streaks of golden and pale pink light from the newly-
risen sun stretched athwart a sombre grey sky, as we set
out towards the church, and wonderfully enhanced the
beauty of the Pinakothek and Glyptothek, which we passed
on our way to the Basilica : the Basilica and the monastery
attached to it being only separated by a wall from the
beautiful white marble temple which faces the Glyptothek,