Tampere Cathedral Explained

Building Name:Tampere Cathedral
Tampereen tuomiokirkko
Tammerfors domkyrka
Location:Tuomiokirkonkatu 3b, Jussinkylä, Tampere, Finland
Geo:61.5025°N 23.7697°W
Religious Affiliation:Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
District:Diocese of Tampere
Status:Cathedral
Architecture Type:Cathedral
Architecture Style:National Romantic style
Year Completed:1907
Architect:Lars Sonck
Height Max:64.0

Tampere Cathedral (Finnish: Tampereen tuomiokirkko, Swedish: Tammerfors domkyrka; originally known as St. John's Church[1]) is a Lutheran church in Tampere, Finland, and the seat of the Diocese of Tampere. The building was designed in the National Romantic style by Lars Sonck, and built between 1902 and 1907.[2]

The cathedral is famous for its frescoes, painted by the symbolist Hugo Simberg between 1905 and 1906.[3] The paintings aroused considerable adverse criticism in their time,[4] featuring versions of Simberg's The Wounded Angel and The Garden of Death. Of particular controversy was Simberg's painting of a winged serpent on a red background in the highest point of the ceiling, which some contemporaries interpreted as a symbol of sin and corruption.[5] [6]

The altar-piece, representing the future resurrection of people of all races, was painted by Magnus Enckell.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.archipicture.eu/Architekten/Finnland/Sonck%20Lars/Lars%20Sonck%20-%20Tampere%20Cathedral%201.html Lars Sonck: Tampere Cathedral – Archipicture
  2. http://evl.fi/EVLen.nsf/Documents/61F63B4363AC14E4C22572BF00385766?openDocument&lang=EN Tampere Cathedral | Evl.fi - Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
  3. http://www.finland-tourism.com/web/guest/finland-guide/what-to-see/attractions/detail/-/article-detail/10123/87106 VisitFinland - Detail - The Official Travel and Tourism Portal of Finnish Tourist Board
  4. http://www.uta.fi/FAST/FIN/REL/ev-cathe.html The History, Art and Architecture of Tampere Cathedral
  5. News: Huttunen . Samuli . Hugo Simberg etsi totuutta ja halusi lähestyä jumalaa maallisen rakkauden kautta – mutta voiko totuutta löytää? . 9 May 2020 . Kulttuuritoimitus . 29 August 2018.
  6. News: Drufva . Juha . Hugo Simbergin maalaukset Tampereen tuomiokirkossa olivat rahvaan taidekoulu . 9 May 2020 . Kansanuutiset . 4 November 2018.