Window cycle

Museum Tucherschloss und Hirsvogelsaal, HI MM 013 a-i
Cycle of nine glass paintings with mythological depictions

In the skylights of the banqueting hall there are nine almost square stained glass windows today, which very probably belonged to the first furnishings. However, as the original fenestration was destroyed during the war, this is not entirely certain.

This cycle occupies a unique position in Nuremberg glass painting – not only because of the mythological programme, which testifies to its patron’s humanistic education. Four scenes of the magnificent grisaille painting focus on the hero Hercules, five others are dedicated to the Olympic gods. So the cycle does not tell a unified story.

Research has detailed all text and image sources. The compositions are mainly based on illustrated editions of the "Ovide moralisé". Stylistically, they are influenced by upper Italian Renaissance graphics, and works by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506) suggest themselves for comparison here.

Nuremberg glass painters could be considered making them, but those known so far, such as those of the late Hirsvogel workshop, are ruled out for technical reasons. Unfortunately, the appearance of the painting is severely marred by cracks, additions, and less-than-professional doubling.

Claudia Däubler-Hauschke