Noah's Ark Cycle: 1. Building of the Ark

religious

When Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau (1559-1617), the founder of Baroque Salzburg, took office as prince-archbishop in 1587, the contemporary local art scene was lacking in eminent personalities and high-quality works of art. In order to demonstrate appropriately the splendour of his court, Wolf Dietrich commissioned artists from abroad. Immediately after Wolf Dietrich had taken office, he commissioned the painter Kaspar Memberger the Elder from Constance to paint a five-part Noah's Ark Cycle.

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Noah's Ark Cycle: 1. Building of the Ark

About the Artist

Kaspar the Elder Memberger

1555 – 1618

Kaspar Memberger the Elder was a Swiss painter in Constance. He was the son of the painter Philipp Memberger the Elder (ca 1510- 1573). Like his two brothers, he was probably trained by his father. When summoned to Salzburg by Wolf Dietrich in 1587, he created impressive altarpieces, memorial plaques and portraits there. In the archiepiscopal papers and documents, the artist was not mentioned as a Salzburg court painter until 1596. Two years later, Memberger returned to Constance, where he died in 1618, an eminent and respected painter.

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