Church of St Remigius
Location, Object
Village of Mettau, district of Laufenburg, Canton of Aargau. Roman Catholic church of St Remigius (Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Remigius), built and decorated in Rococo style 1773–1775, consecrated 1776; restored 1977–1979 (interior) and 1982–1983 (exterior). Painted stuccoed nave and choir, including scenes of the life of St Remigius and emblems.
Emblems (12)
Context
Vaulted and lavishly stuccoed ceiling with ten (nave) and two (choir) monochrome emblems in elaborate rocaille frames, flanking the four central frescoes. In the nave, from W to E: St Remigius’ mother heals a blind man (nos. 1–4; above organ loft), St Remigius baptizes the Frankish king Clovis I (nos. 5 and 6), apotheosis of St Remigius (nos. 7–10); in the choir: the Last Supper (nos. 11 and 12).
Authorship, Date
Franz Fidel Bröchin (1736–1799) from Rheinfelden, signed and dated 1775.
Significance
Glorification of St Remigius (nos. 1–10) and the Sacrifice of the Mass (nos. 11 and 12).
Source
Picinelli/Erath 1687 (nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10), and La Feuille/Offelen 1691 or a later ed. (nos. 3, 6, 7 and 9).
Literature
KdS AG 10: 42–43, 376–386; KF 1: 152; Sigrist 1946; Graf 1974: 164; Fricker/Freivogel 1984; Oberli 2021: 194.
exterior from south.
exterior from east.
interior, view from entrance (south-west).
interior, view from choir (north-east).
interior, view of the organ gallery (west).
organ gallery and emblems nos. 1–4.
central fresco (Remigius baptizing Clovis I) with emblems nos. 5 and 6.
fresco (apotheosis of St. Remigius) with emblems nos. 7–10.
fresco (Last Supper) with emblems nos. 11 and 12.
The rising sun.
DIEM PRÆSIGNAT AB ORTU.
A sleeping lion.
IN SOMNIS VIGILAT.
A flying eagle has noticed a tortoise.
IMINET [recte: IMMINET] HOSTI.
A wild beast fleeing from the rising sun.
ILLUMINAT et ELIMINAT.
A tree full of ripe fruit.
HUMILIOR QUO ONUSTIOR.
A tree bent by the storm.
FORTIOR EST AMOR.
A lily.
CANDOR NON LAEDITUR AURO.
A phoenix in its nest.
RENASCITUR GLORIOSA.
A crown between pyramids.
QUI LEGITIME CERTAVERIT.
A sunflower turning towards the sun.
TANTUS AMOR SIDERIS.
Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice.
DEUS PROVIDEBIT SIBI VICTIMAM. gen. 22.8.
Melchizedek’s sacrifice.
PROFERENS PANEM ET VINUM. gen. 14.18.
Copyright note: Added 2015; revised 2026. All photos taken by the author, August 2013. Floor plan reproduced from Fricker/Freivogel 1984: 12.