Haus zum Ritter, Renaissance merchant house in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Haus zum Ritter is a Renaissance merchant house in Schaffhausen featuring a three-story facade decorated with elaborate painted scenes across its upper surfaces. Large windows with ornamental frames and a high attic story characterize the architectural design of this structure.
The building was constructed in 1492 and expanded in 1566 by merchant Hans von Waldkirch, receiving its name from a knight figure painted on its outer walls. This transformation made it a notable example of architectural development during the early modern period.
The facade displays paintings by Tobias Stimmer showing scenes from Greek mythology, including Odysseus's adventures and representations of different virtues. These images told stories that held meaning for wealthy merchants of the Renaissance period.
The building is located at Vordergasse 65 and remains clearly visible from the street, with a pharmacy and perfume shop occupying the ground floor. The original painted decorations were conserved and can be viewed in the Museum zu Allerheiligen.
The painted decorations were carefully removed in 1935 by specialist Franco Steffanoni to preserve them for the future. Artist Carl Roesch then created replicas between 1938 and 1943 that now appear on the exterior.
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