Cosmas Damian Asam

Cosmas Damian Asam
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 Ascensione di Cristo by Melozzo da Forlì in Santi Apostoli Church. 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 the Cathedral of St. Jacob in Innsbruck. Cosmas Damian died in Munich.

Contents

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

Baden-Würrtemberg

Austria

  • Innsbruck—Dom zu St. Jakob (Cathedral of St. Jakob) (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)