Foundations of the Red Wall

In October 2012, during renovation work on the cathedral, structural remains of the so-called "Red Wall" (built 1750/1751) by Johann Conrad Schlaun were uncovered.

The sculptural fragments shown here were incorporated into the foundation of the Red Wall.

It is presumed that the sculptures were destroyed during the Anabaptist iconoclasm of the early 16th century, although they actually date from a later period. Given their flat backs, they were likely originally mounted against a wall.

At some point, however, they were deliberately smashed, shortened, and moved to a storage area for dressed sandstone, intended for reuse as packing material—as was the case with the Red Wall. A shift in artistic style may have prompted this later repurposing; the figures perhaps no longer met the aesthetic standards of the time. Alternatively, they may have been too badly damaged to serve as prominent decorative elements, leading to their use merely as fill material for another structure.

The figures are designed according to the Ionic order and feature two volutes (spiral ornaments) on their heads. In addition to classical-style robes, they hold large stone tablets inscribed with Latin psalms. Incidentally, the wall derives its name from the color of the red bricks used in its construction.

Text by the City of Münster's heritage preservation department regarding the excavation [external link ].