Little Castle
Location, Object
Municipality of Schneisingen, district of Zurzach, Canton of Aargau. Little Castle (‘Schlössli’), built 1696 and owned by the patrician family von Schnorff of Baden, lords of the manor of Schneisingen, 1681–1798. Several later modifications and enlargements. Restored 1973/1974, 1979/1981 (tower added) and 1996.
Private, not open to visitors.
Emblems (12)
Context
1st floor, room to the north-east, and 2nd floor, rooms to the east and north: ceilings with stucco decorations (Giovanni Bettini) and frescoed paintings and emblems by Francesco Antonio Giorgioli. In each of the three rooms, four emblems in the corners frame the main fresco showing the Virgin Mary as Immaculata (1st floor, emblems 1–4), Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar (2nd floor, east, emblems 5–8), and Susanna and the elders (2nd floor, north, emblems 9–12).
Authorship, Date
Signed (main fresco of Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar) by Francesco Antonio Giorgioli (1655–1725) of Lugano, c. 1696; last restored 1996. Giorgioli also painted the emblems in Herznach (AG), Pfäfers (SG), and Willisau (LU), Castle.
Significance
Moral and religious emblems about the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (nos. 1–4) and the virtue of chastity (nos. 5–12).
Source
Sfondrati 1695 (nos. 1–4), and Picinelli 1653 or later edition (nos. 5–12).
Literature
KF 1: 147; Keller-Schweizer 1972: 91–93, 195; Graf 1974: 166; Piffaretti 1998: 119–123.
The window on the second floor, far right, belongs to the room with emblems nos. 5–8.
1st floor, room to the north-east
with emblems nos. 1 & 4.
1st floor, room to the north-east
with emblems nos. 2 & 3.
2nd floor, room to the east
with emblem no. 7.
1st floor, room to the north-east,
Immaculate Conception (main fresco) with emblems nos. 1–4.
2nd floor, room to the east,
Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar (main fresco).
2nd floor, room to the east,
Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar (main fresco).
2nd floor, room to the east,
main fresco with artist’s signature on the sole of Joseph’s left shoe: ‘F.Anto[nio] Giorgioli pin[xit]’.
A cypress.
INCORRUPTA VIRET.
An ebony tree in the midst of burning flames.
NEC ARDET.
A bird of paradise in flight.
NIHIL COINQUINATUM [Apoc 21.27].
The sun rising over the water.
SINE NUBIBUS ORTUS.
An elephant flees from a shrew mouse.
TANTUS HORROR FOÆDI.
A fleeing rabbit.
FUGA SALUTEM.
A unicorn escapes from a hunter’s net.
FRUSTRA TENDUNTUR.
A parrotfish escapes from a net.
AVERSUS ERUMPIT.
A peacock.
IMPURITATIS IMPATIENS.
Two kingfishers in their nest at sea.
AGGREDITUR NON INGREDITUR.
The sun above dark clouds.
PERTENTANT FRUSTRA.
A hand holding three snakes.
IN VANUM LABORAVERUNT [Ps 126:1].
Copyright note: Added 2018; revised 2026. All photos taken by the author, August 2018.