Church frescos orchurch wall paintings (Danish:kalkmalerier) are to be found in some 600 churches across Denmark, no doubt representing the highest concentration of surviving church murals anywhere in the world.[1] Most of them date back to theMiddle Ages and were uncovered byJacob Kornerup (1825–1913) who carried out restoration work in 80 churches across the country towards the end of the 19th century. They lay hidden for centuries as after thereformation, they were covered withlimewash (Danish:kalk) only to be revealed and restored during the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. In most ofEurope medievalfrescos, extremely common in the Middle Ages, were more likely to be removed completely during the Reformation or in subsequent rebuildings, or merely as they aged. The oldestfrescos, dating back to the 12th century, were painted in theRomanesque style by artists from elsewhere in Europe but those from the 14th century and thereafter are in theGothic style which was used by native Danish painters. It is these that are considered to be the most important forDanish art andculture.[2] A distinction is to be made between these church wall paintings orkalkmalerier and the generic term "fresco" (Danish:fresko) which refers to all types of painting on plastered walls or ceilings.
The murals in Danish churches can be divided very roughly into two main periods: Romanesque, beginning in the 12th century, and Gothic, from the middle of the 13th century. As in most of Europe the transition in painting styles was less abrupt than in architecture. Painting styles are closely related to those of the neighbouring areas of North Germany and South Sweden, especially the province ofScania, which was Danish territory in the Middle Ages.
With the development ofChristianity and the construction of stone churches, Romanesque art came to Denmark from the rest of Europe, with influences mostly from North Germany and the Anglo-Norman English Channel area, and possibly even some from Spain and Italy. Some of this no doubt came from imported manuscripts; there are no surviving "indigenous illuminated manuscripts of significance" from Scandinavia in this period.[3] Many of the churches inSealand, especially those in Måløv,Jørlunde, Slaglille, Sæby and Kirke Hyllinge, have highly artistic murals dating back to the 12th century. The colours were often imported at considerable cost and the paintings, usually of figures, were true frescos, completed on wet plaster in traditionally geometrical compositions with a blue or green background.[4] Several Sealand churchapses have a variant of the usualChrist in Majesty subject, where Christ is surrounded by theEvangelists' symbols, flanked by the Virgin and Saint John with archangels or other figures (Alsted shown above).[5]
There was a lengthy but smooth transition towardsGothic art, beginning in the middle of the 13th century but extending well into the 15th when many of the flat wooden church ceilings were replaced bybrick vaulting. The curvature of the vaults called for new techniques rather than simply following pictures fromilluminated manuscripts. The figures no longer stand in a coloured background but are painted directly on the white limewash. Increasingly, the white areas between the figures are filled with stars, flowers, plants and other ornaments. The figures often appear more conventional than in the Romanesque murals. Gothic church murals are found throughout Denmark and in thesouth of Sweden, and can often be identified as coming from workshops such as the ones inElmelunde on the island ofMøn andIsefjord in northwestern Sealand.[6] Knights in combat became regarded as a suitable subject for church walls.[7]
The Reformation essentially ended the traditions of church wall-paintings in all Protestant counties. The large anti-Catholic fresco, following a print of 1525 bySebald Beham, in the parish church ofBrøns is one of few such works in Europe.[8]
In many of Denmark's churches, wall paintings have been restored. Listed below are some of the most interesting examples:
The murals inAarhus Cathedral date from 1470 to 1520. Until the Reformation, most of the church's walls were covered in frescos but many were lost. The cathedral still has 220 m2 of frescoes, more than any other church in Denmark. One pre-1470 painting was saved from the firstRomanesque-style cathedral in the northwest corner, the so-calledLazarus Window, painted about 1300.
The paintings ofSt Christopher andSt Clement are the tallest in the country. Other figures includeSt Michael andSt George with the dragon (pictured).
Sulsted is a small Danish town just north ofAalborg inJutland. Thechurch, built during the second half of the 12th century, is richly decorated with late-Gothic frescos, all painted by Hans Maler fromRanders in 1548.[9]
Unlike other frescos in Danish churches, these were not concealed with limewash after the reformation and have survived to this day.
The frescos, which decorate the ceiling of the nave, depict theLife of Christ starting with his birth in the first section at the west end of the nave, continue with the beginning of hisPassion in the second or central section and end with his death on the cross in the third most easterly section. Those in the choir are of otherNew Testament images related to the creed and to theLife of the Virgin.
Fanefjord Church on the island ofMøn in southeastern Denmark is richly decorated with frescos which were uncovered from 1932 to 1934 under the guidance of theNational Museum. In 2009, major restoration work was completed on the frescos, revealing their original colours and impact.[10]
The earliest paintings, on the triumphal arch, were created around 1350. They depict theFour Evangelists, as well asSt Christopher andSt George. The most famous frescos are however those dating back to about 1500 which cover large areas of the church's ceiling and upper walls. In the so-calledBiblia pauperum style, they present many of the most popular stories from theOld andNew Testaments intypological juxtapositions. The artist, who can be identified by his emblem, is known simply as theElmelunde Master as it was he who also painted the frescos in Møn'sElmelunde Church. The warm colours ranging from dark red and russet to yellow, green, grey and black are distinctive.
Keldby Church, 4 km east ofStege, is one of the three churches on Møn decorated by theElmelunde Master, probably towards the end of the 15th century. In the so-calledBiblia pauperum style, the paintings present many of the most popular stories from the Old and New Testaments. There are also a number of earlier frescos in the church dating back to about 1275.[11]
Scania, in the south ofSweden, was a Danish province until 1658. Many of its churches are decorated with frescos, very similar in style to those of Denmark.
Thechurch in Vittskövle, a small village nearKristianstad, has a wide variety of wall paintings dating back to the 15th century. They are contained principally in thecross vaults above the nave. The most notable examples are those of theCreation and theFall.[12]
Over the chancel, there is a painting ofSt Nicolas.
The vaults in St Anne's chapel also have wall paintings. On the eastern side, we see thefour evangelists while on the western side there are three female saints:St Barbara,St Ursula,St Gertrude andSt Catherine.
There are hundreds of Danish churches where wall paintings have been discovered, often in a very poor state. Indeed, in some cases they have been limewashed once again as it was not worthwhile restoring them. On the other hand, many have been uncovered and restored and can be seen today. Listed below are a number of churches, region by region, where wall paintings are of interest.[13]
In addition to Fanefjord, Keldby and Elmelunde churches on Møn which are widely recognised for their wall paintings by the Elmelunde Master, there are several other churches in the region which have frescos.
The island ofBornholm is famous for itsround churches. Two of them,Nylars andØsterlars, have huge central pillars with a band of frescos around the top depicting scenes from theAnnunciation to theLast Judgment.[27]
The island ofLæsø in theKattegat lies some 19 km to the east of the Jutland peninsula.
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While restoration techniques are constantly improving, the frescos are increasingly endangered by the heating systems installed in churches and by other activities such as concerts which now take place in the churches. Unless alternative solutions are found, the only secure way to preserve the paintings would be to cover them with limewash once again.[38]
