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Fresco of Saint George,
Merchant Brotherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and the Brotherhood of St. George
5 Zeglarska Street, Toruń, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.
1390-1400AD.

Toruń - 5 Żeglarska street - frescoes
    Gothic tenement house at 5 Żeglarska street in Toruń was established at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, it was the seat of the Merchant Brotherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
    Inside, in the room of the back hall on the first floor, there are gothic paintings from the years 1390-1400. At that time, the room was a decorated hall that served as a meeting place for members of the brotherhood.
    The paintings are an example of the décor of rich burgher houses in the Middle Ages. They were also an expression of the elitism of the Merchant Brotherhood located in the building.
    Curtains and a wide strip of ornament are painted in a zonal arrangement. Above are depicted representations relating to the patroness of the brotherhood - the Virgin Mary, including Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, Visitation of St. Elizabeth with a unique representation in the form of medallions of the yet unborn figures of Christ and St. John the Baptist. The artist also depicted the Heavenly Jerusalem, in which he placed the enthroned Mary with Christ accompanying her. The next representation is the fight scene of St. George with the dragon, alludes to the brotherhood of St. George, which used the tenement house from 1385 together with the Merchant Brotherhood.
    The style of the paintings indicates connections with Czech painting, with the work of Master Theodoric and inspirations related to the Order of the Toruń Franciscans.

Author of the photo: Marek Wieczorek (2008-01-11)
Author of the description: Agnieszka Strzelecka, Marek Wieczorek