Johann Baptist Zimmermann Facts for Kids

A beautiful ceiling painting in the Wies Church

A close-up of a painting in St. Michael Berg am Laim

The Holy Trinity painting in Klosterkirche Wörishofen

Johann Baptist Zimmermann (born January 3, 1680, died March 2, 1758) was a very talented German artist. He was a master at both painting and creating beautiful stucco decorations. Stucco is a special kind of plaster used to make fancy designs on walls and ceilings. He lived during the Baroque period, which was a time when art was very grand and detailed.

Johann Baptist came from Gaispoint, a small place near Wessobrunn. His family was full of artists, part of a famous group called the Wessobrunner School. His brother, Dominikus Zimmermann, was also a well-known artist, and they often worked together.

What He Created
- Painting and Stucco Art
- Famous Projects
Images for kids
See also

What He Created

Johann Baptist Zimmermann was incredibly busy throughout his life. He worked on many churches, palaces, and monasteries across Germany. He was known for his amazing ability to combine painting with stucco work, making rooms look truly magical.

Painting and Stucco Art

Zimmermann's main skills were fresco painting and stucco plastering.

Fresco is a way of painting directly onto wet plaster. As the plaster dries, the paint becomes a permanent part of the wall or ceiling. This makes the art last a very long time.
Stucco is a type of plaster that can be molded into shapes. Artists use it to create detailed sculptures and decorations on walls, ceilings, and even furniture.

He often created entire rooms where the paintings and stucco designs flowed together perfectly. This made the buildings feel grand and heavenly.

Famous Projects

Johann Baptist Zimmermann worked on many important buildings. Here are some of his most famous projects:

Working with His Brother

Johann Baptist often teamed up with his brother, Dominikus Zimmermann. Together, they created some of the most beautiful Baroque and Rococo buildings in Germany.

They worked on the library and chapel of the Reichskartause in Buxheim (1709-1727).
They decorated the church Mariä Himmelfahrt in Maria Medingen (1718-1722).
They also decorated St. Mary in Bad Wörishofen (1722-1723).
One of their most famous collaborations was the Wieskirche (Wies Church) in Bavaria. Johann Baptist created the stunning ceiling paintings there (1749-1754). This church is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Palaces and Royal Residences

Zimmermann also decorated many palaces for important people.

He created beautiful stucco work for the Grand Stairway of Schleissheim Palace (1720-1726).
He worked on the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, decorating rooms like the Sommerzimmer and the Spiegelsaal (1720-1727). Later, he added more stucco and fresco to the Steinerner Saal (Stone Hall) in Nymphenburg Palace (1755-1757).
He spent many years working on the Residenz, Munich, which was the home of the rulers of Bavaria. He added stucco to many rooms, including the "Reiche Zimmern" (Rich Rooms) (1726-1739).
He also decorated the Amalienburg, a small hunting lodge in Munich-Nymphenburg (1734-1739).

Churches and Monasteries

Many churches and monasteries across Bavaria feature Zimmermann's art.

He created stucco and fresco for the church Mariä Empfängnis in Gosseltshausen (1701).
He worked on the Klosterkirche Maria Saal (1711-1713).
He decorated the Pfarrkirche St. Sixtus in Schliersee (1714).
He added stucco to the Ottobeuren Abbey (1714-1722).
He created art for the Benediktuskirche in Freising (since 1716).
He decorated the Benediktbeuern Abbey with stucco and fresco (1724, 1731-1733).
He worked on St. Peter und Paul in Buxheim (1725-1729).
He decorated St. Peter und Paul in Steinhausen (1727-1733).
He created stucco and fresco for St. Peter und Paul in Weyarn (1729).
He worked on the Mariä Himmelfahrt church in Dietramszell (1729-1748).
He decorated the monastery Seligenthal in Landshut (1733-1734).
He created stucco and fresco for St. Dionys und Juliana in Schäftlarn Abbey (1733-1760).
He worked on St. Michael in Berg am Laim (1737-1752).
He helped renovate St. Blasius in Landshut (1747-1752).
He created stucco and fresco for the church "Maria Brünnlein zum Trost" in Wemding (1748-1754).
He worked on Andechs Abbey St. Nikolaus und St. Elisabeth (1751-1754).
He helped renovate St. Anna in München-Harlaching (1751-1761).
He created stucco and fresco in St. Peter in Munich (1753-1754).

Johann Baptist Zimmermann's art helped define the look of the Baroque period in Germany. His work continues to amaze visitors to these historic buildings today.

Images for kids

Fresco in Nymphenburg Palace

Johann Baptist Zimmermann facts for kids

Contents