Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Waltensburger Meister

A Premonstratensian convent got established here around 1150, only a decade after this order had settled in nearby Chur and only 30 years after Saint Norbert (aka "Norbert of Xanten") had founded the Premonstratensians (aka "Norbertines") in Prémontré near Laon. The Premonstratensians were a really fast growing order in Europe at that time (- and they still exist). The first church of the convent was built on a different site, but in the early 13th century, a Romanesque church, dedicated to Saint Michael, was erected here. In 1472 the church burnt down and got rebuilt (and enlarged) using the old foundations. In 1502 the new church was dedicated to Mary, St. Michael and the holy angels. During the Swiss Reformation the Premonstratensians had to withdrew, so from 1646 to 1967 the church was as a "simultaneum" used equally by Catholics and by Reformed Protestants, worshipping here at different times and with different clergies. Since 1967 the Protestants use an own (new) parish church. This frescoe, depicting the "Coronation of the Virgin", was found during a renovation under plaster in the niche. It is a work of the "Waltensburger Meister", (see Chur Cathedral and Casti). As the artist worked around 1330, this part of the church did not got destroyed during the fire in 1472. The "Coronation of the Virgin" is a very popular icon since early Gothic times (eg. Senlis, Poitiers, Chartres..)

A cathedral may have existed here already within the 5th century. The Kathedrale St. Mariae Himmelfahrt (= "Saint Mary of the Assumption") of today was erected 1150 - 1272, from east to west. The crypt, under the risen choir, is probably the oldest part of the cathedral. The architectural concept is very similar to that of neighbouring St. Luzius, built the same time. The epiphanie is part of a larger fresco painted by the "Waltensburger Meister" 1330/1340, who as well created the frescoes in the small church in Casti I had seen some days ago. I have the impression, that the artist who created the Gothic Magi-frescoe in Alvaschein, knew this work.

The church of the little settlement of Casti, halfway up the mountains, is located on a promontory, overlooking the valley of the Hinterrhein, one of the two initial tributaries of the Rhine River. The church dates back to the 12th century. Later the apse was adorned by a large, colourful frescoe, of which only some parts have survived. The frescoe is attributed to an artist (or studio) named "Waltensburger Meister", who worked in the area in the early 14th century.