Deus – God

The illustration of this attribute is the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. According to St. Luke, the child Jesus was presented to God in the Jerusalem temple twice. The first time on the eighth day of his life for circumcision and naming, and the second time after 40 days for Mary’s purification. At that time, the old man Simeon recognized God in the infant Jesus. In the depicted scene, he holds Jesus at the height of his head, so that he and Jesus share a halo.

The accompanying figures kneel below, holding lit candles, as is done today in the church on February 2 to commemorate this event. The presentation takes place against the backdrop of the dome of the Jerusalem temple. This is the second example of illusionistic painting, this time expanded with further architectural illusions on the sides.

Although the scene Deus is already painted towards the main altar, the inscription right next to the arch, separating it from the bay “Consiliarius,” is inverted from it. To read it, one must again face the organ gallery. This inscription is a fragment of Simeon’s words: “Viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum” – “My eyes have seen your salvation.”

On the sides of the bay Deus, two legends from the life of St. Bernard are depicted. On the southern side, Mary, as a nursing mother, appears to the saint. The symbolism of this scene (repeated in the northern arm of the transept) is explained by the writings of St. Bernard. Nursing is a sign of his adoption and special veneration by Mary, as well as the imparting of divine knowledge and wisdom to Bernard.

On the northern side, the crucified Christ, with his arms detached from the cross, embraces St. Bernard. Just below the cross is a fragment of a verse from the Song of Songs: “Fasciculus myrhae dilectus meus mihi et ego illi” – “A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, and I am to him.” Myrrh, a powdered resin obtained from the balsam tree, with a pleasant fragrance but very bitter taste, may here indicate the great suffering of the Crucified One through its bitterness.

There is another accompanying inscription: “Nardus mea dedit odorem suum, inter ubera commorabitur” – “My nard gave forth its fragrance, it will stay between the breasts.” Nard is a plant native to India. An expensive aromatic oil is obtained from its root. It was with such oil that Mary Magdalene anointed Christ before his passion.

Most of the wall paintings inside the basilica in Krzeszów are the work of Georg Wilhelm Neunhertz, who created a colossal cycle of frescoes over 2.5 years – the greatest work of his life.

From preserved documents, it appears that only two people worked with him on this: Andrew Maywald from Kłodzko and Johann Hausdorf. However, it seems that at least one more painter must have assisted him: Johann Franz Hoffmann, especially in the illusionistic architecture. Even this was likely not enough, considering the immense scope of the work and the relatively short time of its execution – only two years.

Witold Papierniak, “Krzeszów – Church of Our Lady of Grace”, 2004