|eclectic imaging (redux)|
St. Pantaleon, Cologne: Westwork Ceiling
This is the ceiling of St Pantaleon's western part from the ottonian age. Since Pantaleon's original ceilings were completely destroyed, a complete rebuild was necessary, giving the chance of gaining a much more Romanesque impression than there was before the war. Like many other churches, Pantaleon was heavily modified during the centuries, resulting in a Gothic choir and vaults, and Baroque décor. After their demolition, these vaults were not reconstructed, but flat slabs were ceiled, resulting in a much more authentic appearance. This is especially true for the nave's ceiling we have seen two days ago.
Unfortunately not much information is available on Kadow in English, so let me make some brief comments: born in 1909, he studied at Bauhaus in the 1920s, being a scholar of Kandinsky and Klee. After his period of apprenticeship he finally became a textile designer. 1939-50 he held classes in textile design at textile engineer school in Krefeld, 1967-74 art professor in Cologne. He died in 1981; his oevre includes paintings, drawings, murals, porcelaine designs, art of weaving, and glass painting.