2015 - Melk - Abbey Church
Interior of the Melk Abbey Church.
To some critics, the Melk Abbey Church decor is excessively busy, even for a baroque interior. But there's no denying that the overall effect is striking. Precious frescos, paintings, statues, marble embellishments, and a golden altar fill nearly every wall and ceiling space.
Originally only a Baroquization of the abbey church was planned. However, after 1701, at Abbot Berthold Dietmayr’s instigation, a complete reconstruction of the church took place following plans by Jakob Prandtauer.
The artistic decoration of the church were prominent masters in their fields: Antonio Beduzzi (interior design, sketches for the frescoes), Johann Michael Rottmayr (frescoes, altar paintings), Paul Troger (altar paintings), Giuseppe Galli-Bibiena (designs for the pulpit and high altar), Lorenzo Mattielli (design for the sculptures), and Peter Widerin (sculptures).
The left side altar in the transept contains the skeleton of St. Coloman in a sarcophagus. The altar to the right is dedicated to St. Benedict but the sarcophagus is empty.
A ten year restoration of the church, financed with help from the state and federal government, was finished in 1987.
2015 - Melk - Abbey Church
Interior of the Melk Abbey Church.
To some critics, the Melk Abbey Church decor is excessively busy, even for a baroque interior. But there's no denying that the overall effect is striking. Precious frescos, paintings, statues, marble embellishments, and a golden altar fill nearly every wall and ceiling space.
Originally only a Baroquization of the abbey church was planned. However, after 1701, at Abbot Berthold Dietmayr’s instigation, a complete reconstruction of the church took place following plans by Jakob Prandtauer.
The artistic decoration of the church were prominent masters in their fields: Antonio Beduzzi (interior design, sketches for the frescoes), Johann Michael Rottmayr (frescoes, altar paintings), Paul Troger (altar paintings), Giuseppe Galli-Bibiena (designs for the pulpit and high altar), Lorenzo Mattielli (design for the sculptures), and Peter Widerin (sculptures).
The left side altar in the transept contains the skeleton of St. Coloman in a sarcophagus. The altar to the right is dedicated to St. Benedict but the sarcophagus is empty.
A ten year restoration of the church, financed with help from the state and federal government, was finished in 1987.