The Schnewlin Chapel

This chapel was donated in honour of the Freiburg Mayor and Knight Johannes Schnewlin († 1347) by the Schnewlin-Gresser-Stiftung, who were the foundation administering his estate. Also referred to as the ‘Gresser Chorlin’ (the Gresser chancel), the chapel was likely to have been completed in 1525.

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Schnewlin Altarpiece

  • A significant element within the chapel is the Schnewlin altarpiece (ca. 1514/15). Based on a design by Hans Baldung Grien, the group of sculptures depicts the Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt (realised by Hans Wydyz) in front of a painted landscape by Hans Leu the Younger. The left wing of the altarpiece shows the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist and the right wing the Vision of St John the Apostle on Patmos. While initially intended to be positioned in front of the left wall so as to be gazing at the beholders in the ambulatory, currently the figures are placed on the right facing the wall.

    A significant element within the chapel is the Schnewlin altarpiece (ca. 1514/15). Based on a design by Hans Baldung Grien, the group of sculptures depicts the Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt (realised by Hans Wydyz) in front of a painted landscape by Hans Leu the Younger. The left wing of the altarpiece shows the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist and the right wing the Vision of St John the Apostle on Patmos. While initially intended to be positioned in front of the left wall so as to be gazing at the beholders in the ambulatory, currently the figures are placed on the right facing the wall.

  • The Annunciation of Mary is depicted on the back of the closed altar wings. This part of the altar is dated to around 1600. The patron saints of Johannes Schnewlin are depicted on the non-movable wings. They depict St John the Evangelist with a dragon in a chalice and St John the Baptist with a lamb and book in his hand.

    The Annunciation of Mary is depicted on the back of the closed altar wings. This part of the altar is dated to around 1600. The patron saints of Johannes Schnewlin are depicted on the non-movable wings. They depict St John the Evangelist with a dragon in a chalice and St John the Baptist with a lamb and book in his hand.

    Coat of Arms

    • Schnewlin’s coat of arms together with his patron saint on the boss in the anteroom.

      Schnewlin’s coat of arms together with his patron saint on the boss in the anteroom.

      • A gilded epitaph from 1762 above the Schnewlin altarpiece commemorates the Jurist and Rector of the University Sigismund Stapf († 1742) and his son Georg († 1756), both of whom are interred in the University Chapel.

        A gilded epitaph from 1762 above the Schnewlin altarpiece commemorates the Jurist and Rector of the University Sigismund Stapf († 1742) and his son Georg († 1756), both of whom are interred in the University Chapel.

        The neo-Gothic furnishings of the chapel

        The Neo-Gothic carved altarpiece, depicting the Lamentation of Christ has stood in front of the left-hand wall since 1869.

        • The ogival funerary monument of Archbishop Ignatz Demeter († 1842, buried in the chancel).

          The ogival funerary monument of Archbishop Ignatz Demeter († 1842, buried in the chancel).