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In the summer of 1930 a number of German
daily papers covered the opening of a new spa at Bad Oeynhausen
near Hannover. Their articles were more interested in tourism
and the healing properties of the new establishment rather than
the artistic qualities of the frescoes produced by Christian
Hess for the spa, but a few positive judgements did emerge:
“… the sophisticated tonalities in the
frescoes by the Munich-based artist Christian Hess make a
significant impact, especially in the entrance hall and in the
area with sixteen cabins …” and again “… the beautiful
colour tones lend a touch of splendour to the interiors and
along the staircase thanks to the contribution of the
Munich-based painter Christian Hess. He has created a series of
frescoes in line with contemporary tastes: we can see bathers,
groups of animals, still lifes with flowers…”
Newspaper 17/5/1930
A Newspaper in Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad) 31/5/1930
Hannoverische Anzeiger 3/6/1930 Munchener
Nueste (no. 189)
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Ten compositions covering
150 square metres |
We can now reproduce here the
frescoes painted by Hess at Bad Oeynhausen thanks to the
photographer Gustav Richter, who made a complete record
of the artist’s work at the spa.
Although only in black and white and bearing the
marks of time, the photos hide none of the lyrical force
of Hess’ frescoes, which covered 150 square metres. The
artist described his work in a letter to his sister
Emma: “There are six of my
frescoes to the left of the entrance hall, two along the
stairway and another two in the waiting room on the
first floor.” Unfortunately the photos of one
the frescoes in the entrance hall are missing. In
compensation the preparatory sketch for one of the
completed murals has been traced. |
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Frescoes from the entrance hall. On the
right the preparatory sketch next to the
finished work
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The frescoes, both with
bathing themes,
from the waiting room on
the first floor |
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A group photo
with the house painters |
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Bad Oeynhausen, May 1930. Louis Christian
Hess (fourth from the left, back row) who
joined the house painters in a group
photograph taken to celebrate the end of
work at the spa. It was Hess’ way of
expressing his thanks to the painters for
their work in preparing the walls at the spa
on which he painted the frescoes.
The murals covered a total of 150 square
metres. |
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