Munich Theatine Church of St. Cajetan - Theatinerkirche St Kajetan is a photograph by Alexandra Till which was uploaded on December 30th, 2012.
Munich Theatine Church of St. Cajetan - Theatinerkirche St Kajetan
© Christine Till... more
Title
Munich Theatine Church of St. Cajetan - Theatinerkirche St Kajetan
Artist
Alexandra Till
Medium
Photograph - Photographs - Prints - Digital Images - Cards - Posters - Photo-calendars - Photo Art
Description
© Christine Till
The high-baroque Roman Catholic Theatine Church of St. Cajetan (German: Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan) adds a touch of Italy to the city of Munich, Germany. Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, wife of elector Ferdinand Maria, donated this church to the Italian Order of the Theatines in gratitude for the birth of the long-awaited heir to the throne, Prince Max Emanuel in 1662.
A native of Turin, the princess distrusted Bavarian architects and builders and thus summoned Agostino Barelli, a master builder from Bologna, Italy, to construct her church. Barelli modelled the church on Sant'Andrea della Valle in Rome, the mother-church of the Theatines. He worked on the building for 12 years, but was dismissed as too quarrelsome. It took another 100 years before the building was finished - the rococo facade was completed in 1768 by François de Cuvilles.
The church's interior is unusual for Bavarian Churches. It is dominated by stucco works of Italian stucco masters. Due to their brilliant white color the rich stucco ornaments have a very light feeling. The high altar has a picture, "The Virgin enthroned with Angels" (1646), by Caspar de Crayer, a pupil of Peter Paul Rubens. The Altar of the Virgin (right transept), has "Holy Kinship" by Cignani (1676) and an "Annunciation" by Desmarées (on the altar-table), while the Altar of Saint Cajetan (left transept), has a painting by Sandrart, "Intercession of St Cajetan during the Plague in Naples".
Theatinerkirche's striking yellow facade stands out, and its two lofty towers, topped by delightful cupolas, frame the entrance, with the central dome at the back.
This is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever been in. It takes your breath away when you walk in and see it in all it's whiteness. Beautiful from the outside but inside its just unbelievable. München is a great city and you can miss a lot. Don't miss St. Kajetan.
The expansive Odeonsplatz in front of the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshals' Hall), the Hofgarten (Court Garden) and the Theatine Church is often used for outdoor stage events.
Uploaded
December 30th, 2012