Objekt 2405
Multi-purpose church space
Description
The square in front of the Barfüsser Church, around 1835 in this picture, is a
hive of activity. The church’s nave served as a warehouse at the time, while
mentally ill and disabled persons were housed in the monastery buildings
at the back. When in 1843 the city market hall was built on the grounds of
the Barfüsser monastery, the last monastery buildings had to give way. The
Löwen fountain presumably stood on this spot until 1846. Before the Basel
Historical Museum was opened here in 1894, the building served a variety
of functions: as a post office, pawn shop, auction premises and butter
market.
Object description
View of Barfüsser Square with the Barfüsser Church
painter: Andreas Geist (1805–1860)
probably Würzburg, 1835 (after a stay in Basel in 1833/34)
oil on canvas
acquisition
Inv. 2003.119.