Hans Fries facts for kids

The Sermon of St. Anthony of Padua

Hans Fries (born around 1465 – died around 1523) was a talented Swiss painter. He lived and worked before a big religious change called the Reformation happened in Europe.

Hans Fries was born in Fribourg, a city in Switzerland. His father was a baker. Hans learned how to paint from another artist named Heinrich Bichler in Bern. After spending some time in Basel around 1487 or 1488, he went back to his hometown of Fribourg.

In Fribourg, during the early 1500s, Hans Fries became the official city painter. This was an important job! He was also a councilman, which meant he helped make decisions for the city. During these years, he created many beautiful altars, which are special decorated structures found in churches. Around 1510, he moved to Bern and lived there until he passed away.

Famous Paintings by Hans Fries

Hans Fries created many interesting artworks. Here are some of his well-known paintings:

• Christ carrying the Cross (1502): This painting shows Jesus carrying the cross. It is a large canvas, about 81 by 164 centimeters, and can be seen at the Kunstmuseum (Art Museum) in Berne.
• St. John Drinks the Poison (around 1507): This painting is part of an altar dedicated to St. John. It's painted on wood and is at the Swiss National Museum in Zürich.
• Two Visions of St. John (around 1507): This is another part of the St. John altar, also on wood, and is at the Swiss National Museum in Zürich.
• St. Barbara (1503): This painting of St. Barbara is an altar wing, found at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Fribourg.
• St. Christopher (1503): Another altar wing, showing St. Christopher, also at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Fribourg.
• St. Margareta (around 1505): This is an altar wing featuring St. Margareta, at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Fribourg.
• St. Nikolaus (around 1505): An altar wing showing St. Nikolaus, also at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Fribourg.
• Allegory of the Cross (around 1515): This is a painting on wood that tells a story using symbols related to the cross. It's at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Fribourg.
• Sermon of John the Baptist before Herod (1514): This painting is part of a larger artwork called a triptych (a three-part painting) about John the Baptist. It's at the Kunstmuseum in Basel.
• The Beheading of John the Baptist (1514): Another part of the John the Baptist triptych, also at the Kunstmuseum in Basel.
• John the Evangelist in Boiling Oil (1514): This painting is from a St. John triptych and shows a dramatic scene. It's at the Kunstmuseum in Basel.

See also

• Heinrich Bichler