Painted skull in SevgeinPainted skulls in Central Europe

In the ossuaries scattered all over Central Europe, one can find several painted and inscribed skulls. These skulls preserve an individualized memory of the deceased and are an imposing memento mori for the living.

The tradition of skull painting in Central Europe was spread until the early 20th century. In the context of the "Ossarium" project, an in-depth examination of this tradition is planned for the future.

 

 

 

 

Publications:

Höpflinger, Anna-Katharina/ Yves Müller, Gedenken in Gold - Eine Bestandsaufnahme der Schädel im Beinhaus von Galtür. ISBN 978-3-9525209-0-1

Höpflinger, Anna-Katharina/ Yves Müller, Bemalte Schädel in Österreich. Ein fotografischer Einblick, in: Friedhof und Denkmal. Zeitschfrift für Sepulkralkultur 62, 2017, 13–16. 

See:

Koudounaris, Paul, Vom Berg Athos nach Stans. Ursprünge und Verbreitung der Schädelbemalung in Europa, in: Yves Müller/ Anna-Katharina Höpflinger, Ossarium. Beinhäuser der Schweiz, Zürich: Pano 2016, 210-223.

 
 
  

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Painted skull of Wildschönau Painted skulls of Wildschönau Painted skull of Kolsass Painted skull of Hallstatt Painted skull in Austria

Painted skulls of Hallstatt Painted skulls of Dingolfing Painted skulls of Rott am Inn