Theatinerkirche Munich

 

See the Theatinerkirche yellow frame in the distance from the tower of St Peter's.

Photo from 2001

Whenever I enter the huge Odeonsplatz in Munich, next to part of the huge Residenz, I cannot fail to notice the yellow splendour of the Theatine Church of St Kajetan. It has almost become a symbol of the city. Sometimes I go inside and feel the coolness of the Italianate white stucco. Its not my favourite Baroque church but why is it here in Munich? 

Elector Ferdinand Maria had it built for the Theatine monks as a thanks offering for the birth of a son and heir. His wife Henrietta Adelaide wanted it to become the most beautiful and costly in the city. She tried to enlist Guarini. Unfortunately we have missed a potential masterpiece by this great architect and instead have the work of Agostini Barelli (1627-99) from Bologna, and later  Enrico Zuccalli (1642-1724) from Roveredo.  Barelli based his design on San Andrea della Valle, the mother church of the Theatines in Rome. This great church, with its memorable  1623  facade by Carlo Maderno is on the Corso Vittorio Emanuale in the heart of Rome. I must blog about this soon! The Theatinerkirche was built 1663-71. From 1672 Zuccalli took over as architect for the Elector and from 1667 at the Theatinerkirche. He added the two towers and completed the dome. The towers recall Salzburg Cathedral. The finished exterior is majestic and bears comparison with Weingarten, Fulda and Passau. I am ashamed that damage in the last war in 1944 badly affected the towers and in the interior the high altar, choir stalls and organ were destroyed. All is now beautifully restored.

Internally we have a basilica with three bays in the nave, transepts, dome with drum and lantern over the crossing and apse with choir. The aisles contain chapels with triumphal arches over the entrance and with interconnecting doors at each side.. here is much heavy stucco work lots of acanthus leaves and putti etc.  by Nicolo Petri (1685-1688). Perhaps remarkably the pulpit of 1686 by Andreas Faistenberger has survived. The interior is not as imposing as the exterior.

I have read that the works on this church tended to inhibit the development of local Bavarian Baroque, in favour of conservative Italian models. What would Guarini have com up with? We must be content with that  yellow monumental Mediterranean facade.

Photos taken below when  we visited Munich in January 2014.