Church of St Mary of the Assumption
Location, Object
Village of Pfäfers, Canton of Sankt Gallen. Church of former Benedictine monastery, now Catholic parish church of Saint Mary of the Assumption (Pfarr- und Klosterkirche Maria Himmelfahrt), built 1688–1694, renovated 1966–1972. Vaulted ceilings of nave, choir and galleries with stucco decorations and over 200 frescoed paintings of varying size, including 30 painted emblems.
Emblems (30)
Context
Longitudinal and transverse arches of nave and choir, each with three monochrome (camaïeu) emblems (except between 2nd and 3rd bay). The emblems frame the four main frescoes showing, from S to N: King David playing the harp before the Ark of the Covenant (1st bay, above organ loft, emblems nos. 1–6); Jonah preaching in Nineveh (2nd bay, above pulpit, nos. 7–15); Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek (3rd bay, before high altar, nos. 16–24); Jacob’s dream (choir, above the monks’ choir stalls, nos. 25–30).
Authorship, Date
Signed and dated by Francesco Antonio Giorgioli (1655–1725) of Lugano, 1694; restored 1969–1970. Giorgioli also painted the emblems in Herznach (AG), Schneisingen (AG), and Willisau (LU), Castle.
Significance
Themes include the monastic duties of worship, asceticism, preaching, and sacrifice, partly related to the iconography of the central frescoes and their liturgical context.
Source
Unidentified.
Literature
Kdm SG 1: 172–179; KF 1: 482–844; Keller-Schweizer 1972: 59–69, 189–191; and 1985; Gubler 1973: 10; Graf 1974: 156, 165; Piffaretti 1998: 90–96.
exterior from south.
exterior from east.
central view from organ loft (south-east) to choir.
central view from choir (north-west) to entrance.
view from gallery (south).
view from gallery (north).
view from gallery (north) to organ loft.
monks‘ gallery (north-west) above sacristy and behind high altar.
1st bay, vaulted ceiling with emblems nos. 1–6.
2nd bay, vaulted ceiling with emblems nos. 7–15.
3nd bay, vaulted ceiling with emblems nos. 16–21.
A lute.
IN CITHARA [Ps 150:3].
An organ.
IN ORGANO [Ps 150:3].
Drums.
IN TYMPANO [Ps 150:4].
Three trumpets.
LAUDATE DEUM IN SONO TUBÆ [cf. Ps 150:3].
A harp.
LAUDATEI [recte: LAUDATE] EUM IN PSALTERIO [Ps 150:3].
Two violins.
IN CHORDIS [Ps 150:4].
A grafted olive tree.
IN BONAM OLIVAM [Rom 11:24].
A ship tossed on the sea.
URGENT SIMUL UTRAQ(UE) CURSUM.
A solitary turtle dove.
GEMITUS CUM FUNERE CLAUDIT.
A cock.
VERBERIBUS PARAT ISTE TRIUMP[UM].
A snake shedding its skin.
NOVAS DANT ASPERA FORMAS.
A stumbling horse.
CAUTIOR EX LAPSU.
A hand throwing a ball on the floor.
SURGET MOX ALTIOR ICTU.
An eagle tearing out its feathers.
PER PÆNAS PENNÆ RENOVANTUR ET ANNI.
A phoenix in its burning nest.
IN FINEM DILEXIT [Jn 13:1].
A bleeding vine.
DULCES FERT LACHRIMA FRUCTUS.
Lilies watered from a chalice.
GERMINAT VIRGINES [cf. Zech 9:17].
Four sheaves of corn bent towards a larger sheaf in the centre.
ADORANT OMNES.
A ripe pomegranate.
MAMMILLA REGUM [Isa 60:16].
A winepress.
CALCAVI SOLUS [Isa 63:3].
A bird feeding its young in a nest with a Host.
EDITE [cf. Mt 26:26].
A dead swan lying on a cross.
HYMNO DICTO [Mt 26:30].
A pelican feeding its young with its own blood (‘the pelican in her piety’).
EX HOC O(MN)ES [Mt 26:27].
Birds drinking from a chalice.
BIBITE [Mt 26:27].
Two putti holding a slate (?) with eyes painted onto it.
TOT OCULI TESTES [Erasmus, Panegyricus ad Philippum].
A lion sleeping with open eyes.
VIDET [Jn 6:40, etc.].
A burning glass is held over an open book, setting a heart on fire.
DIGNE, DEVOTE, ATTENTE.
A lock with a key held by a hand.
CLAUDIT ET APERIT [cf. Apoc 3:7].
Rain.
DESCENDIT [Mt 7:25].
A censer.
[motto lost].
Added 2012; revised 2026. All photos taken by the author, July and September 2012 (exterior) and in May 2026 (all other). Floor plan reproduced from Kdm SG 1: 162.
The inventory of the Pfäfers emblems is dedicated to the memory of Werner Vogler.