Digital Photography of Museum Burg Ziesar

Presented by Gene Berryhill, Ph.D.Fulbright Senior Scholar, 2003Fulbright Senior Specialist, 2005Sponsor: Fulbright Kommission in Berlin, Germany

This presentation shows brief highlights of the beginning

and completed renovations during my tenure at

Museum Burg Ziesar -

September-December 2003 & May-June 2005

ZIESAR

THE TEAM:

Dr. Clemens Bergstedt, curator and the curatorial staff of Museum Burg Ziesar,

Prof. Dr. Heinz-Dieter Heimann,Chair/Advisor: Potsdam University

and Prof. Detlef Saalfeld, FH Potsdam (Applied Sciences University) with the Master Student Exhibition Design Team

Ziesar Student Team: In class in Potsdam (left) and onsite at Ziesar (right)

Prof. Saalfeld and Dr. Bergstedt

The Site:

Located in Brandenburg, in the small village of Ziesar, the castle was first constructed in 928 AD.

Through the centuries, many changes and renovations have taken place, leaving a visual timeline and record of German art history, particularly theChristianization in Eastern Europe.This is the title of Castle Ziesars completed renovation into a state museum.

The Project:

Restoration of this historical treasure, -- open to the public by 2005.

Objectives:

Create exhibition design to best show and highlight spiritual and physical qualities of the artifacts, paintings, architecture and unique historical features.

Photograph, expose, and record these works for exhibition, research and archival purposes.

Architectural Highlights

Exterior Facade

The Tower

Visual timeline dating between about 1000 - 1800

Facade - transitional details: Romanesque to Renaissance

ChapelExteriorEntrance

Interior Gothic window

The Nave - Artifacts removed

Nave Stained GlassRestoration

Nave: Choir View

Nave wall Painting - Restorations in progress

Above: vault center Right: nave vaulting

Double Quadripartite Vaulting

Geist with Rib VaultingRibbed Vault Column

Close up:

Geist (spirit)

Painted here to ward off evil spirits, much like the gargoyle concept. Note the gouging out of the mouth by later inhabitants.

Gothic arch painting detail - TROMPE LOEIL

Above: ColumnLeft: Wall painting - Plant motifs

Iron Wall

Wall Composition/Construction

Ceiling Construction

Original Foundation: 928 AD

Underground furnace and outlets

Ground floor - looking down into the furnace room at right >

Jewish slaves tended the furnaces to heat the Castle and also lived here in the lowest section.

Wandmalerei(wall painting)and the Photography

The Photo Digital Process(raw photo -almost)

Christ Wall painting: Comparisons before and after.Close up of Christ: Wall 2- Script: Apostles Creed.

Several photos were colorized and gray-scaled to enhance whitewashed, damaged imagery and multiple layers of paintings.

Christ in Mandorla - 4 Evangelists (Catholic)Christ in Mandorla - 4 Living Creatures (Ezek.1:4)(raw photo -almost)

Christ within the mandorla--black and white(further digital manipulation for exposure)

Close up and further enhancement

Interpretations

Though the image is still not yet completely revealed,

there is enough evidence to figure out the meanings

with biblical/historical study and comparison with

similar medieval imagery located in churches

and monasteries throughout Europe.

Therefore, cleaning and restoration can begin.

From this historical information we can

discern the biblical foundation of this imagery

as Christ Enthroned with the Four Living Creatures

also identified as the four evangelists or apostles;

Matthew (man), Mark (lion), Luke(ox) and

John (eagle) plus the 24 Elders from Revelation 4:1-7. How do we know?

Examples and Study Materialshttp://catholic-resources.org/Art/Evangelists_Symbols.htm

http://encarta.msn.com/media_461517540_761578474_-1_1/Tympanum_of_the_Portal_of_St_Pierre.html

http://www.anoka.k12.mn.us/images/docmgr/7475file18109.pdf

http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=112599&handle=li

http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?handle=detail&artobj=2880&artview=56156

http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/evangelists.html

http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Koch-ChristianSymbols.htm

Scriptural references that relate to the imagery:

Second Coming of Christ - Last Judgment - New Jerusalem

Matthew 25:31-46

Daniel 12:2

Revelation 20:13

Matthew 24:31

Ezekiel 1:4

Ezekiel 47:1-12

Ezekiel: 40-48

Revelation 21

Through these exposed images, biblical text and

historical records, we worked to reveal the pictorial

theme of the castle, which will lead to discovery

and restoration of severely obscured sections.

This exposed wall painting of the Root of Jesse was of great assistance as it was in fair condition:

Isaiah 11:10 Then in that day The nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.

Romans 15:12.Again Isaiah says, There shall come the root of Jesse, And he who arises to rule over the gentiles, In him shall the gentiles hope.

Wall painting: Woman and Childin mandorla

Revelation 12:1-17

1.A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;2.and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth . . .

Press release with photo of finished altarand nave of the chapel.

Results:

Over 500 digital images were selected and submitted to the teams, burned on CD-ROMs, November 2003.

The digital equipment used has the ability to expose obscured features and details of the wall paintings, leading to enhanced knowledge of the iconography.

Grand opening video of Ziesar plus still images of the finished castle. Approximately 3,000 photos archived.

The Equipment:

Camera: Nikon D1H Digital SPECS: Image sensor 23.7 x 15.6 mm, 12 bit rgb CCD; Total px: 2.74 million. Image size: 2,000 x 1,312 px. Sensitivity: 200-1600 (ISO equiv.) Holds 96 MGs.

Lens: 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 zoom lens Nikkor

Flash: Autofocus Speedlight, SB-80DX

More . . .

Nikon EN-4 rechargeable battery packs

MH-16 Quick-Charger

512MB Lexar Write Acceleration Cards

Macintosh Titanium laptop with internal CD burner

Fire wire for download

Photoshop software

Blank CD-Rs

Camcorder

First Silk Tapestries Exhibit: American Embassy - Berlin March 2004

http://www.cies.orgTraditional Fulbright Scholar Program

sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. The traditional Fulbright Scholar Awards for 2006-2007 in 140 countries are now available. Fulbright Senior Specialists Programis designed to provide short-term academic opportunities (two to six weeks) for U.S. faculty and professionals. Shorter grant lengths give specialists greater flexibility to pursue a grant that works best with their current academic or professional commitments.Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program

are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Candidates should be senior scholars and have a significant publication and teaching record.Fulbright International Education Administrators ProgramThese IEA seminars are designed to introduce participants to the society, culture and higher education systems in Germany, Japan or Korea through campus visits, meetings with foreign colleagues and government officials, attendance at cultural events and briefings on education. Participants gain new perspective on the need to internationalize U.S. campuses and insight into how it can be done.

Gene Berryhill

PO Box 1429Laguna Beach, CA 92652

artist@geneberryhill.comhttp://geneberryhill.com

(Way in the Heavenly City)