Kunstsammlung Lorenzkapelle

Description

Under the then sub-master builder Weber von Werth, the small church at the city wall was constructed from 1580 in the style of the revived Gothic of the Counter-Reformation. The Pürschgericht map of 1564 still shows houses that were demolished for this building project. The interior of the chapel was vaulted and sensitively painted. Around 1584, it was consecrated. During the Thirty Years´ War, an artillery position was set up under the choir, causing great damage to the church. Toward the end of the war, the damage was repaired and the interior paintings were renewed. Around 1700, the chapel also received new altars. After the cemetery was abandoned and moved outside the city in 1832, the chapel was deconsecrated and served other purposes until 1851 when Dean Dr. Martin Dursch´s collection of Gothic sacred art was housed here. This was the first museum in Rottweil. Toward the end of the century, not only were the figures of the chapel tower added, but the Orpheus mosaic also found a temporary home here. The chapel was restored in 1977, and the original dimensions of the church windows were reinstated. By the time of the opening of the Dominican Museum in 1992, only selected exhibits from the Dursch collection were displayed. 

Today, the site mainly features the sculpture cycle of the chapel tower, which is one of the most important achievements of Gothic monumental sculpture in Swabia. The works date from the second quarter of the 14th century and are divided into the prophet cycle attributed to the Marienmaster around 1340 and the apostle cycle attributed to the Christmaster around 1350. They are complemented by the reliefs of the portal tympanums from around 1330, as well as by the sculptures of the Holy Cross Minster, the original figures of the market fountain and the Georg fountain, and the "Weckenmännle" attributed to Anton Pilgram. Other gems of Rottweil stone carving art are grouped around these outstanding exhibits. 

An annual service is held on St. Lawrence´s Day (August 10).