25 works, 1922–1976

Public works

Alongside paintings and books, Seewald created murals, altarpieces, stained-glass windows and mosaics for churches, museums and public buildings in Germany and Switzerland over five decades – many of them can still be seen today.

München · 1961

The Greek cycle in the Hofgarten

For the rebuilt north arcades of Munich’s Hofgarten, Seewald painted fifteen frescoes in about four months in 1961: Greek landscapes in shades of grey on a Pompeian-red ground. Twelve show named places and carry verses by Homer, Pindar, Sappho, Hölderlin, Goethe and others; three have no text. The cycle is still on public view – in the very arcades where the Nazi exhibition “Degenerate Art” had been shown in 1937.

Literature: Rolf Kussl: Hellas im Hofgarten. Richard Seewalds Griechenlandzyklus in München. Schnell & Steiner 2026, ISBN 978-3-7954-9108-6

Places and poets

AthensPindar
OlympiaPindar
DelphiIon
IthacaHomer
CorfuGoethe
CyprusHomer
AcrocorinthHölderlin
NaxosNonnus
CorinthPindar
Sounion
AeginaPindar
PorosSappho

1922
Stained-glass windowsScenes from the Old and New TestamentDeutsche Gewerbeschau, chapel of the Christian art section · München, GermanyHis first stained-glass windows
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1927
Interior decorationCafé-restaurant in the Hansahochhaus · Köln, GermanyArt Deco, with Harlequin, Pierrot and musicians
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1928
Large paintingCologne AirportDeutsches Museum · München, GermanyCommissioned by Konrad Adenauer for the opening of Cologne airport; now in the Deutsches Museum
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1929
FrescoesAnimalsHis own house (architect Theodor Merrill) · Köln-Rodenkirchen, Germany
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1930
FrescoThe Four SeasonsRheinisches Museum · Köln-Deutz, Germany
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1931
AltarpieceMary walking on the lighthouse beamStella Maris church (architect Dominikus Böhm) · Norderney, GermanyLarge oil painting above the altar – his first altarpiece
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1932
TapestriesReemtsma house, now Altonaer Museum · Hamburg, GermanyWoven by the Münchner Gobelin-Manufaktur
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1936
AltarpieceAnnunciation. Paradise LostCappella Santa Maria Annunziata · Ronco sopra Ascona, SwitzerlandDestroyed by a landslide in 1943
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1941–42
FrescoImmaculata among people at prayerMaria Lourdes church (architect Fritz Metzger) · Zürich-Seebach, Switzerland
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1944
MuralGuthirtkirche, choir · Aarburg, Switzerland
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1944–46
FrescoesScenes from the childhood of JesusSt. Theresia church · Zürich-Friesenberg, Switzerland
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1948
MuralChiesa San Carlo Borromeo · Magadino, Switzerland
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1952
Stations of the CrossSt. Wolfgang church · Landshut, Germany
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1952
Murals and stained glassRegina Pacis parish church · Wiler (Lötschental), Switzerland
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1954
MuralBrother Klaus points to Mary with the Christ ChildSt. Nikolaus von Flüe church · Niedergailbach (Saarland), Germany
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1955
MuralsGürzenich, cloakroom hall and wine restaurant · Köln, GermanyPlants and animals in delicate colours
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1955–56
Mosaic and windowsChrist above the high altarSt. Adolfus church · Düsseldorf-Pempelfort, Germany
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1956
MuralChrist with the scrollCollegium Borromaeum, seminary church · Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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1959
Apse mosaicSt. Josef church · Gaggenau, Germany
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1961
FrescoesGreek LandscapesHofgarten, north arcades · München, Germany15 frescoes in shades of grey, still in place
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1964
Stations-of-the-Cross windowsCatholic parish church · Breil/Brigels, Switzerland
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1967
FrescoCapèla del Nusétt · Ronco sopra Ascona, SwitzerlandIn memory of his wife Uli
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1968
Windows and muralsHerz-Jesu-Kirche · München-Neuhausen, GermanyThe church burned down in 1994; two of Seewald’s windows survived
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1971
MuralFinding the relics of the Theban LegionSt. Theodul church · Sion/Sitten, Switzerland
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1976
MuralsGenesis cycleParish hall of the Herz-Jesu-Kirche · München, GermanyHis last mural
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Catalogue of all known murals, windows and mosaics (mural.ch) ↗