The Villinger/Böcklin Chapel

The first founder of the chapel, Jakob Villinger, left his mark in the chapel windows and vault keystones. When the Magdeburg cathedral provost Wilhelm Böcklin von Böcklinsau later took over the chapel, he supplanted the presence of his predecessor and secured his eternal memory with a life-size stone statue.

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Villinger and Villinger Windows

This chapel’s proximity to the Imperial Chapels points to the function of its donor, Jakob Villinger († 1529): treasurer to Emperor Maximilian I.

  • Once again, the patron saints on the keystones mark the Villinger family's ownership of the chapel. In the chapel, St James is depicted with a pilgrim's staff and shell

    Once again, the patron saints on the keystones mark the Villinger family's ownership of the chapel. In the chapel, St James is depicted with a pilgrim's staff and shell

  • In the anteroom St Ursula with an arrow.

    In the anteroom St Ursula with an arrow.

    Böcklin – The Magdeburg cathedral provost

    After a number of years, the chapel was transferred to the Dean of Magdeburg Cathedral Wilhelm Ludwig Böcklin von Böcklinsau († 1585). His grave slab with iron handles is well preserved; while the grave slab of his daughter, Anna Schwendi († 1572), next to his is extremely weathered.

    Epitaph/Böcklin-Monument

    Böcklin and his monumental epitaph

    In the middle of the chapel, Böcklin immortalised himself with a monumental stone epitaph: lavishly framed, the life-sized figure stands in the armour of a knight and the vestments of a bishop. In order to direct his prayers for an eternal life to Christ, the portrayed donor faces left, where the Böcklin cross was installed until 2006.

    • The Böcklin Monument with the portrait of Böcklin in today's chapel.

      The Böcklin Monument with the portrait of Böcklin in today's chapel.

    • An insight into the Villinger/Böcklin chapel around 1900, showing the Böcklin monument and the Böcklin cross in a Renaissance frame on the chapel wall.

      An insight into the Villinger/Böcklin chapel around 1900, showing the Böcklin monument and the Böcklin cross in a Renaissance frame on the chapel wall.

      The St Anne altarpiece

      Saint Anne with her daughter Mary and her grandson Christ

      Joachim

      Saint Joseph

      Since 2009, the St Anne altarpiece has stood there, the centre of which was created around 1515, showing St Anne and Mary with Jesus, flanked by Joachim and Joseph (Master/Monogrammist H.L.).

      The chapel grille

      Jakob von Scherenzgi

      Directly to the left of the Böcklin monument, almost concealed by the baroque confessional, hangs a small epitaph for Jakob von Scherenzgi († 1584), who was in the service of the cathedral provost Böcklin for a long time and found his final resting place in the choir aisle in front of the chapel. The painting shows the founder kneeling in intercession before Christ on the cross.

      Cannonballs as ornaments

      • On the upper left of the wall is the tablet commemorating General Amadeus von Harrsch († 1772), who defended Freiburg in the War of the Spanish Succession, that was donated by his family.

        On the upper left of the wall is the tablet commemorating General Amadeus von Harrsch († 1772), who defended Freiburg in the War of the Spanish Succession, that was donated by his family.

        The three baubles hanging from the lower edge of the epitaph for Amadeus von Harrsch may seem like a Christmas decoration. In fact, they are cannonballs that form part of an opulent frame in which a variety of military decorations allude to the Austrian general's glorious deeds. The flags, standards and military equipment are impressively fanned out behind the frame so that they appear like a gloriole of radiant splendour, finely and nobly graded in shades of gold, grey and silver. You could almost hear the marching music of war or the victorious fanfares.

        Detail of the cannonballs as seen on the epitaph for Amadeus von Harrsch

        Excavations: An insight into the tomb

        In 1739, on the occasion of a sinking floor slab in the chapel, Böcklin's grave was opened which bares the inscription revealing the exact date of his death: 14 October 1585.

        An upright box was found, containing a copper coffin engraved with the year (1585) and a black cross. The opening of the coffin revealed a whole body in a dress of black-brown velvet.