by Karl Knappe (1884-1970)
from the Vatican church, Expo 1958 (Brussels), Sakrament Chapel 'Baptism'
Natural stone, glazed, gilded
Photo: Max Schulz 2019 (excerpt)
In the entrance hall, which also served as a baptistery, a depiction of the baptism of Jesus is embedded in the wall facing the lower church. John the Baptist raises his right hand over Christ's head and baptizes him. Hand and head of the Baptist mark the center of the composition. He stands in a broad golden ray of light that splits the image. The dove of the Spirit hovers above the scene as a white-grey triangle, thus simultaneously depicting the Trinity. Shades of gray and brown are chosen for the earth and sky, making the golden light appear all the brighter. The work was produced at Mayer’sche Hofkunstanstalt GmbH (Glass Design and Mosaic) in Munich, a company that still exists today and with which Knappe frequently collaborated.
Knappe was a sculptor, glass artist, and mosaic artist from Munich. Among his first known works is the design for the war memorial in Munich's Hofgarten in 1924. He lost a professorship at the Technical University of Munich that he had started in 1930, and parts of his art were considered "degenerate". On the other hand, in 1940, he supplied a bronze eagle sculpture for an air base near Munich. After the war, he received numerous commissions and was highly honored by the city, state, and federal government. In 1958, besides the Vatican church, he also created a mosaic for the pavilion of the Federal Republic in Brussels. His last major public work is a wall mosaic in the mezzanine of the Odeonsplatz subway station in Munich (1970).
Baptismal font
by Joseph Höntgesberg (1922 – 2019)
Photo: Max Schulz 2019
The low baptismal font in front of the wall mosaic was created by the sculptor Joseph Höntgesberg, also for the Vatican church in 1958. The original bronze lid is missing. The Cologne-Delbrück-based artist became well known for his works commemorating the Nazi era (the Engelssturz [Fall of Angels] memorial, 1959, and the Ostfriedhof forced labor camp memorial, 1993).
References:
Gedächtnisausstellung Karl Knappe. Arbeiten in Holz, Bronzen, Plaketten in Bronze, Mosaiken in Naturstein und Glas, Steinarbeiten, Glasfenster, Arbeiten in Gips, Graphik. Galerie Günther Franke. Munich 1975 [Brochure accompanying the exhibition].
Partsch, Susanna: Knappe, Karl, in: De Gruyter, Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, Bd. 80, 2014, p. 533 f.
Zacharias, Alfred: Karl Knappe 80 Jahre, in: Das Münster, 11/12, 1964, p. 390 - 403.
