Hartberger Karner

The Hartberger Karner is an important late Romanesque building that dates back to the 12th century. The Karner, also known as the ossuary, is located on the south side of Hartberg’s Stadtpfarrkirche, the parish church of the town of Hartberg in Styria, Austria. The Karner is a two-story building that consists of a basement ossuary and a top floor chapel dedicated to the archangel Michael.

The Top Floor Chapel

The top floor chapel is accessed by an outside staircase that was built during the 19th century renovation. The chapel includes a 3/4 apse with paintings that depict scenes from the life of Christ, such as the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. The main chamber of the chapel is 6.6 meters in diameter, while the apse is 4 meters in diameter. The main space, a Michael chapel, stands 7 meters tall, with an 8-meter-high conical ceiling. The ceiling is decorated with a fresco of Christ in Majesty surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. The walls of the chapel are adorned with paintings of saints, angels, and biblical figures, such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Daniel.

The Basement Ossuary

The ossuary may be found in the basement of the Karner. It is entered through a Romanesque portal that bears an inscription that states that the ossuary was built about 1167. The ossuary is a circular space that contains the bones of the deceased that were exhumed from the nearby cemetery. The bones are arranged in niches along the walls, forming a macabre decoration. The ossuary also features paintings that illustrate the themes of death, judgment, and salvation. Some of the paintings are original from the 12th century, while others are additions from the 19th century restoration.

The 19th Century Restoration

The ossuary was extensively renovated between 1889 and 1894, under the supervision of the painter and restorer Theophil Melicher. Melicher excavated and supplemented the inside paintings, which had been covered by layers of lime and plaster. However, he also altered the original color character of the paintings, and added new elements that were not present in the original design. Among the “new creations” of Melicher are the vault, particularly the king on horseback, the king on the dragon, the king on the whale, the dove with the branch in its beak, Christ and the apostle John, the devil driving a naked man and Judas into the mouths of hell. These images are inspired by the medieval legends of the Antichrist and the Apocalypse. Melicher also added his own signature and the date of the restoration on the wall of the ossuary.

The Interpretation of the Paintings

The paintings of the ossuary have been interpreted in different ways by scholars and visitors. Some of the paintings depict either the seven deadly sins or a representation of Daniel’s four kingdoms, which are symbolic of the history of the world and the end times. The paintings also reflect the medieval worldview and theology, which emphasized the contrast between the earthly and the heavenly, the temporal and the eternal, the sinful and the righteous. The paintings also serve as a reminder of the fragility of human life and the need for repentance and faith.

Hartberg, Austria