The Treasure Inventory of St. Emmeram

Baroque splendour in Regensburg

The exhibition is a celebration of a new discovery. The treasure inventury of the imperial abbey of St Emmeram in Regensburg has only recently come to light and is now set to make its public debut. Created around 1750, this sumptuous volume records the treasures of the venerable Benedictine abbey in 72 colourful large-format water-coloured pen-and-ink drawings. It vividly conveys the ecclesiastical magnificence of the mid-18th century, making it a unique historical source from the Rococo period.

In Germany, lavish treasure inventories were sometimes created as a visual record of the precious objects held by churches and monasteries. Many of the gold and silver treasures that grace the pages of the Treasure Inventory of St Emmeram were melted down as part of Germany’s secularisation process, making this book an even more invaluable resource. A number of these exquisite articles were preserved and will be displayed at the exhibition alongside magnificent chasubles in opulent silks.