Cosmas Damian Asam

Cosmas Damian Asam in front of ceiling fresco inside Weltenburg Abbey

Interior of the Asamkirche in Munich

Cosmas Damian Asam (September 29, 1686 – May 10, 1739) was a German painter and architect during the late Baroque period. Born in Benediktbeuern, he moved to Rome in 1711 to study at the Accademia di San Luca with Carlo Maratta. There, he could see the fresco Ascent of Christ by Melozzo da Forlì in the Basilica Santi Apostoli. Melozzo's innovative techniques of foreshortening influenced Asam's works. In 1713 Asam won the Academy's first prize for his drawing of Miracle of Saint Pio. He worked with his brother Egid Quirin and their joint projects are often attributed to the "Asam Brothers". These include the Asam Church in Munich and Innsbruck Cathedral. Cosmas Damian died in Munich.

Major works

Window over the high altar in the Asamkirche

Triumph of Apollo on ceiling of the Schloss (castle) in Alteglofsheim near Regensburg (1730)

Ceiling painting showing the Triumph of Benedict of Nursia in Weingarten Abbey

The Asam Brothers, singularly and together, were very prolific artists. Some of the major works of Cosmas Damian are the following.

Bavaria

• Aldersbach—Monastery Church of Mariae Himmelfahrt (frescoes of the Annunciation, Nativity, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, the Four Evangelists, and the Church Fathers)
• Amberg—Pilgrimage Church of Maria-Hilf (ceiling frescoes of Amberg pilgrimage) (1718)
• Benediktbeuern—Church of St. Benedikt (Antonius Funda altar)
• Freising—Dom St. Maria and St. Korbinian (rococo paintings and stucco) (1723–1724)
• Freystadt—Pilgrimage Church of Maria-Hilf (frescoes)
• Friedberg—Pilgrimage Church of the Peace of the Lord (painting in the chancel) (1738)
• Fürstenfeldbruck—Monastery Church of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin (vault painting)
• Ingolstadt—Asam Church of Maria Viktoria (frescos, possibly architect)
• Metten—Benedictine Monastery Church of St. Michael (high altar painting of Lucifer Destroyed by St. Michael)
• Sloderdjik Church of Christ [Altar paintings of the Ascension]
• Munich—Franciscan Monastery Church of St. Anna im Lehel (ceiling paintings, restored in 1971–1972 after World War II damage, and altars)
• Munich—Catholic Church of St. Johann Nepomuk (Asam Church) (built and decorated entirely by the Asam Brothers) (1733–1746)
• Munich—Dreifaltigkeitskirche (dome fresco of the Adoration of the Trinity)
• Osterhofen Abbey—Papal Basilica of St. Margaretha (frescoes)
• Regensburg—Benedictine Monastery Church of St. Emmeram (frescoed walls and ceilings)
• Schleissheim—Neues Schloss (New Castle) (vault fresco)
• Straubing—Urselinenkirche (interior paintings)
• Weltenburg—Monastery Church of St. George and St. Martin (architect and paintings, with his brother Egid Quirin portrayed as an angel in one of the frescoes, high altar, side altars) (1716–1724)

Baden-Würrtemberg

• Bruchsal—Schloss church decoration (1730) (now destroyed)
• Ettlingen—Schloss chapel (design and ceiling paintings)
• Mannheim—Schloss (architectural design and ceiling paintings, now restored after World War II damage)
• Meßkirch—Johann Nepomuk Chapel in Basilica St. Martin (decorations) (1733–1734)
• Weingarten—Benedictine Monastery Church of St. Martin of Tours and St. Oswald (frescoes)

Austria

• Innsbruck—Dom zu St. Jakob (Innsbruck Cathedral) (ceiling frescoes on the life of St. James) (1722–1723)
• Innsbruck—Landtagssaal (State Parliament Hall) in the Alte Landhaus (ceiling and wall frescoes) (1725–1728)