The Room of Tristan

The story of Tristan and Isolde is probably the most famous love-story of the Middle Ages and is based on the writings of Gottfried von Strassburg (about 1210). The unknown painter presents us scenes of this romance by the technology of “terra-verde” – painting. The cycle doesn’t show us singular scenes, it is continuously represented and arranged by architectural elements and different landscapes.

The story starts with the fight between Tristan and Morold, who gets killed in it. A small piece of the sword point gets stuck in the head of Morold. Tristan was wounded during the fight and the wounds don’t heal very well. He hears of the healing power of the Irish Queen and travels to Ireland to get help. At court he catches sight of the beautiful Princess Isolde for the first time.

Back in Cornwall his uncle Marke again sends him to Ireland to look for a bride for him. On arrival Tristan has to kill a dangerous drage cut out the tongue of the dead monster. Tristan hides the poisonous tongue under his doublet without knowing that it’s really toxic. Princess Isolde finds the unconscious Tristan and takes care of him. In a big bath tub Tristan washes the dragon poison from his body while Isolde is looking at his sword and recognises a deep notch, which fits perfectly to the sword-piece in the head of the murdered Morold. She wants to take revenge instantly but her lady’s maid Brangene stops her.

Isolde accompanies Tristan to Cornwall to marry King Marke. But during the journey by ship both drink from a mysterious love potion which was originally meant for Marke: Once arrived in Cornwall Isolde marries King Marke but at the same time she has a deep relationship with Tristan. This affair is threatend to become uncovered when the king demands a trial by ordeal. Isolde has to swear that she never laid in the arms of any other man than her husband Marke: She has to touch a hot iron, given by the bishop.

To stand this trial by ordeal she has to go to a small island by ship. Leaving the ship, she trips over but a pilgrim, the disguised Tristan, catches her. And so she swears that she never laid in the arms of an other man than her husband King Marke and this pilgrim. Because of the small change of the oath’s words she withstands the proof and touches the hot iron without getting burned.

Some frescoes-parts got lost when the northern wall collapsed in 1868. Therefore the cycle is not completely conserved.