Ornate Chapel - Residenz Munich
The Reiche Kapelle, dedicated in 1607, was the private place of worship of Duke Maximilian and his wife. It was also the place where the duke kept his collection of relics, highly valued by the Catholic Church as more precious than gold or precious stones. Relics, tangible parts of the deceased holy person’s body, were kept as an object of reverence, associated with the belief that the saints could intercede between human beings and God. This and other miraculous powers attributed to these collected relics made the Reiche Kapelle the spiritual center of the entire Residenz. Because of the exceptional importance of the duke’s collection, the chapel was furnished and decorated with special magnificence. The floor is paved with colored marble and other valuable stones. Gilt reliefs on a blue ground resembling lapis lazuli decorate the ceiling. The center of the ceiling opens in the center onto a lantern with stained glass windows. The walls are clad with stucco panels polished to look like marble, a material called scagliola.
Ornate Chapel - Residenz Munich
The Reiche Kapelle, dedicated in 1607, was the private place of worship of Duke Maximilian and his wife. It was also the place where the duke kept his collection of relics, highly valued by the Catholic Church as more precious than gold or precious stones. Relics, tangible parts of the deceased holy person’s body, were kept as an object of reverence, associated with the belief that the saints could intercede between human beings and God. This and other miraculous powers attributed to these collected relics made the Reiche Kapelle the spiritual center of the entire Residenz. Because of the exceptional importance of the duke’s collection, the chapel was furnished and decorated with special magnificence. The floor is paved with colored marble and other valuable stones. Gilt reliefs on a blue ground resembling lapis lazuli decorate the ceiling. The center of the ceiling opens in the center onto a lantern with stained glass windows. The walls are clad with stucco panels polished to look like marble, a material called scagliola.