Church of the Conception of the Virgin Mary
Location, Object
Village of Savognin, Canton of Grisons. Roman Catholic church of Nossadonna (St. Mariä Empfängnis, Conception of the Virgin Mary), built 1632–1641, at the initiative of Francesco Maria da Vigevano OFMCap (1605–1692) as part of the Capuchin mission of Rhaetia, restored 1941–1942. Richly painted ceiling dated 1663, including scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary (nave) and emblems (choir).
Emblems (9)
Context
Choir: frescoed groin vault with nine emblems in stucco frames (four on either side of the emblematic depiction of the Immaculata, no. 6), together with a non-emblematic Garden of Eden above the high altar.
Authorship, Date
Artist unknown; painted in 1663 (Kdm GR 3: 288).
Significance
Glorification of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
Source
All emblems taken from Picinelli 1653.
Literature
KdS GR 3: 286–291; KF 2: 158; Graf 1974: 154, 165; Sonder 1998: 145–151; Batz 2004: 42–46; Schweizer 2014: 49–50; Besomi/Barelli 2009: 139–140; Oberli 2021: 193–194.
exterior from north-west
central view from nave to choir.
choir.
choir, frescoed groin vault with emblems nos. 1–9.
choir, Garden of Eden above the high altar.
A stork killing a snake.
TUTO CONTERIT.
A starry sky.
CITRA UMBRAM.
The sun rising over the sea.
HINC PROCUL UMBRÆ.
The sun above an obelisk.
UMBRAE NESCIA.
The burning bush of Moses.
LUCET NON URIT.
The Virgin Mary as Immaculata, crushing a dragon.
IPSA CONTERET CAPUT TUUM. GEN [ESIS 3:15].
Noah’s Ark.
NUNQUAM MERGITUR.
The full moon.
ÆMULA SOLIS.
Mount Olympus.
CALIGINIS EXPERS.
Copyright note: Added 2012; revised 2026. All photos taken by the author, July 2025 and September 2015 (view of village). Layout plan reproduced from KdS GR 3: 286.