By BAYERN TOURISMUS Marketing GmbH
Kaufbeuren Town Museum
Übergabe der Confessio Augustana (1740/1790)Original Source: Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
The presentation of the Confessio Augustana
This reverse glass painting shows the presentation of the Confessio Augustana, also known as the Augsburg Confession, to Emperor Charles V. at the imperial diet of 1530 at the bishop's residence in Augsburg. It was not until 15 years later, in 1545, that Kaufbeuren also acknowledged the Augsburg Confession.
In a large hall, a number of church and secular people are gathered around Charles V. Some of them have been given numbers and are named in a legend.
Emperor Charles V. is seated on a throne under a canopy. In front of him stand two men who are reading the text of the Augsburg Confession.
At a table, two secretaries are recording events in the finest detail.
Übergabe der Confessio Augustana (1630/2000) by Georg KölerOriginal Source: Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
The graphic template
Johann Saubert (1592–1646) commissioned this piece for the anniversary of 1630 from the Nuremberg copperplate artist Georg Köler (1599–1638). It was used for his book, "Miracula Augustanae Confessionis, Wunderwerck der Augspurgischen Confession" [The miracle of the Augsburg Confession], which was issued four times between 1631 and 1698. Over 224 pages, this text provides details of all of the 44 persons involved. The copperplate engraving served as a template for the Kaufbeuren reverse glass painting depicting the presentation of the Confessio Augustana.
100 Jahre Westfälischer Friede (1750) by Johann Jakob RumpeltOriginal Source: Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
100 years of the Peace of Westphalia
This reverse glass picture was painted to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648. For Protestants, this date became a significant day of commemoration and was also celebrated in Kaufbeuren. In Kaufbeuren, the Protestant community decorated their church festively and erected triumphal arches around the altar.
The image on the left shows the Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand III. who formally ended the Thirty Years' War.
The right-hand image depicts the Swedish King Gustav Adolf, who entered the war in 1630 and turned the tide in favor of the Protestants.
Above the cross on the altar, we see the emissaries who negotiated the Peace of Westphalia.
Friedrich II. von Preußen (1764)Original Source: Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
Frederick II of Prussia
The reverse glass painting shows Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great. The picture is signed by Johann Matthäus Bauhoff (1716-1788) and dated 1764. He was a weaver in Kaufbeuren and painted reverse glass images as a secondary occupation. There are numerous portraits of Frederick the Great from the Kaufbeuren school of reverse glass painting. Frederick II was king of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1740 and was seen as a popular sovereign in the regions of southern Germany due to his religious tolerance . He famously said "every man should go to Heaven in his own way."
Luther mit Schwan (1740/1790)Original Source: Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
Martin Luther with the swan
Depictions of Luther were also popular in Kaufbeuren. There are several known reverse glass paintings of him. This one depicts Martin Luther with a swan. The swan alludes to the Bohemian reformer Jan Hus (around 1370-1415), who Luther first named as his precursor in 1519. The dying Hus, whose name in Czech means "goose" (husa), is thought to have prophecized at the stake in 1415 in Constance: "today you roast a meagre goose, but in one hundred years you will hear a swan singing and she you shall not roast.“
Augsburger Friedensgemälde 1730 (1730) by Michael KaufferOriginal Source: Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
The Peace of Augsburg painting from 1730
This reverse glass painting was based on a painting of the Peace of Augsburg from 1730, which was gifted to the Protestant school children at the High Peace Festival.
Katharina von Bora (1740/1790)Original Source: Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
Katharina von Bora
This reverse glass painting from Kaufbeuren shows Luther's wife, Katharina von Bora (1499-1552). He married the former nun on June 13th, 1525. Luther's wife took over the management and administration of the Augustine monastery in which they lived, taking charge of animal breeding, and running a brewery and numerous estates. At the same time, she also hosted the many students and guests who flocked to Luther. Katharina made a significant contribution to her family's living. With her resolute personality, she stood by her famous husband's side and supported him in his endeavors.
The Kaufbeuren reverse glass painters also illustrated stories from the bible.
Text and photos: Kaufbeuren Town Museum
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.