08 Works, Today, May 11th is Saint Gangulphus of Burgundy's day, With Footnotes - #132

Fresco illustrating Saint Gangolf who leaves the castle in the presence of 2 knights, in the choir of the Saint-Gangolphe chapel of Schweighouse-Lautenbach in Alsace

Saint Gangulphus of Burgundy (died May 11, 760 AD) is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church.  

Master of Messkirch  (1500–1543)

Saint Gangolf, circa 1535-1540

Oil on panel

Height: 66.8 cm (26.2 in); Width: 20.8 cm (8.1 in)

Yale University Art Gallery

The Master of Meßkirch (active c. 1515 - 1540) was an anonymous German Renaissance painter. Master of Meßkirch is named after the eleven altarpieces he painted for the Stiftskirche St. Martin in Meßkirch between 1536 and 1540. His birthplace and apprenticeship are unknown. From the 1530s onwards his works seem to display familiarity with contemporary northern Italian painting. Hans Baldung Grien was also influential to his work.

Early on he worked for Count Eitel Friedrich III of Hohenzollern in Veringenstadt. Later he was called to Meßkirch to work for Count Gottfried Werner von Zimmern.


Throughout the master's career his figures had Manneristic proportions. While early on his colors were bright and iridescent, his coloration became calmer and more muted in his last years. More on The Master of Meßkirch

Born to one of the most illustrious families of Burgundy. As a youth, Gangulphus was known for his great honesty, chastity, and propriety, and visited churches and read religious texts, avoiding the company of libertines. 

Ferdinand Kaltenbacher, (1856–1929)

St. Gangolf (with picture of the Gangolf chapel)

Ceiling painting

Wolpertswende, parish church of St. Gangolf

I found no biographical in formation on Ferdinand Kaltenbacher

When his parents died, he became a model landowner, taking care of the household economy with ease and industry and also providing for the churches and the poor on his land. When it came time to marry, he chose a woman who did not share his virtues.

St. Gangolf

As an important nobleman, Gangulphus participated in the wars of the time, but also dedicated himself to preaching the Gospel in Frisia.

The painting of the Saint in the church of St Gengoux de Scissé. The structures on the left in the middle distance appear to be tents.

On a journey back to Burgundy, he found a property at Bassigny upon which stood a fountain that issued fresh and good water. Gangulphus bought the property. However, his friends mocked him because this property's fountain would not serve back at home. However, when Gangulphus returned home, he pushed a stick into the soil. The next day, he instructed his servant to pull the stick out of the soil. Out of the soil emerged a new fountain, from which gushed fresh water.

Vertical panoramic photo of the 15th century fresco illustrating Saint Gangolf who discovers his wife's adultery

J. Kravogl.

Saint Gangulphus had her dip her hand into the source of water

Coloured lithograph 

During his absence, his wife had committed adultery with a priest. His wife protested her innocence, but Gangulphus wished her innocence to be judged by God. Thus, he had her dip her hand into the very same source of water he had created on his property. His wife’s hand was completely and miraculously scalded by the water. Gangulphus was fairly lenient: he forbade his wife from ever sharing his marriage bed and also ordered the priest to go abroad.

However, his wife soon had her lover return. Hurrying back, the priest, wishing to decapitate Gangulphus, attacked the saint as he slept. However, the priest missed and injured Gangulphus' thigh. The wound, however, proved to be fatal and Gangulphus received the Last Sacraments on May 11, 760.


The priest fled the country with Gangulphus' wife. Purported miracles soon took place at Gangulphus' tomb. Both his wife and the priest soon suffered illnesses and died. More on Saint Gangulphus of Burgundy

Virgin and Child with Saint Michael and Saint Gangolphe, Calvary

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