This detail from the scenes of the Heavenly Jerusalem painted on the ceiling of the nuns' choir at Wienhausen portrays the convent's founders, Duchess Agnes of Landsberg-Meissen and her husband, Henry, duke of Saxony and count-palantine of the Rhine, and son of Henry the Lion. (They are located in the center). The first abbess of Wienhausen, Eveza, is portrayed to the left of the duke. Also portrayed are the provosts and other abbesses of the convent.
Wienhausen
The nuns' choir at Wienhausen was constructed circa 1330 and painted circa 1335. It is one of the few early Gothic painted interiors to survive. Artistically, the painting shows similarities with the murals in the cathedral at Braunschweig, and the artisans may have come from a workshop in Braunschweig. The paintings may also have been influenced by trends originating in England. Kloster Wienhausen: Die Wandmalereien im Nonnenchor. In 1488 the paintings were restored by three nuns under the direction of the Abbess Susanna Potstock. Restoration work was also undertaken in the nineteenth century.
Wienhausen, statue of Agnes of Landsberg; other images from the nuns' choir; Wienhausen, Agnes of LandsbergWienhausen, Nuns' choirWienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of the three Marys at Christ's tombWienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of Arisen ChristWienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of Christ bearing the crossWienhausen, Nun's choir (details of Christ's crucifixion)Wienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of Christ prepared for burialWienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of Christ as the heavenly bridegroomWienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of a youthful Christ with MaryWienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of the Egyptians drowning in the red seaWienhausen, Nuns' choir detail of doubting ThomasWienhausen, nuns' choir, detail of S. ChristopherWienhausen, nuns' choir, detail of Christ in the garden
Abbess Eveza wears the typical head covering or crown of the nuns of Wienhausen, with its red cross on her forehead. Later images also depict such a head covering. See Wienhausen, Cistercian nun with Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim
Wienhausen
Abbess Renate von Randow; Wolfgang Brandis
