European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 11, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                G Lmar continued from Page 11 Martin Schonbauer lived nearby from 1477 to 1490 at no. 2 Rue Schonbauer in the Hussein Zum Schwan Quot Swan House quo which is embellished with flamboyant carvings. Schonbauer eventually became an artist and painted several of the great works in museums and churches around town. Other noteworthy houses in the Street include Zum Trienen Hus Quot the Green House quo the Bartholdi museum and the Maison Pfister with its facade consisting of biblical subjects As Well As Royal motifs. The Maison Pfister is perhaps the most famous House in Colmar. It appears on Many posters and postcards and is one of the favorite subjects for professional and Amateur photographers alike. Under the arcades of the Maison Pfister is a wine shop run by Dominique dance who along with his assistant Marie Utzwiller is very willing to guide the visitor into the realm of alsatian wines. Quot we have quite a few american and Canadian customers Quot dance said Quot they can try wines on the spot and we invite them to our vineyards outside the City the Clos St. Landelin where they can see where it comes  but before taking dance up on his offer to visit the Vineyard the visitor should continue on to the place de la Cathy Drale bordered by attractive houses including the Maison Adolphe. This building dates to the 15th Century and is considered to be the most Beautiful gothic House in Colmar. Also in the area Are the former guard House built in 1575from whose windows the town Council used to announce its decisions and the collegiate Church of Saint Martin with its richly decorated doorway and 15th-Century stained Glass windows. Running off a Small Square at the end of Rue Des Marchands Are the Rue Des Serrurier and Rue Des Boulanger. On the first is the dominican Church built in the 13th Century. It houses one of Schonbauer s most famous paintings Virgin in the Rosebush. The Church also has attractive Cloisters where concerts Are Given during the summer. It adjoins a Library with manuscripts from the eighth to 15th centuries. The Library has some 1,500 works printed before 1500 and More than 350,000 volumes in All plus numerous reproductions of original engravings. The second Street which has several half timbered houses leads to the popular Rue Des tees. This Street takes its name from the Maison Des tees Quot House of Heads Quot with its profusion of sculptured Heads. It is considered the most Beautiful Renaissance House in Colmar. At the end of the Rue Des tees is the dominican Convent of Unte Linden. The Convent takes its name from a congregation of women who met under the Aegis of St. John beneath a Lime tree a hence Unte Linden meaning Quot under the Linden  the Convent s Chapel contains some Fine paintings by Schonbauer and other masters but its chief treasure is the isenheim altar one of the masterpieces of european painting and not to be missed. The rooms around the cloister serve As a museum with works of religious Art weapons furniture and artefacts from through the Ages. On the other end of the old town is the old customs House a former warehouse dating from 1480. Goods awaiting the payment of duty were held there. Its wide gothic doorways Are topped by a two headed Eagle the Symbol of the Empire. The custom House was not Only a place of Commerce but also of politics As it served As a meeting place for representatives of the Region during the 15th Century. In the adjacent tanners quarters Are a number of recently restored houses dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. This area leads to the Quay de la Poisson Erie Quot fishmongers Quay quo another restored area with attractive buildings Many rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1706. The town Walls on the opposite Bank of the Lauch River Are the Best surviving Section of the fortifications demolished by Louis Xiv in 1675. Nearby is a Section called Petite Venise Quot Little Venice Quot with attractive streets several restaurants a hotel and private Homes. The area perched on a canal is tiny and pretty but to use the name Quot Venice Quot seems a Gross exaggeration. From Here it is a Short walk Back to place Rapp a and a Chance to return to the museums or those culinary and liquid delights mentioned earlier. Handsome Martin and his Beautiful Art he must have been a Good looking Chap this Martin Schonbauer to have picked up the nickname Quot Hipsch Martin Quot handsome Martin in the local Colmar dialect. There is but one portrait of Schonbauer. It shows a Youngish face pleasant but not extraordinary in any Way. Some Art historians believe he picked up the attribute because of the Beauty of his Art a his paintings his engravings and his sculptures. His work and Fame spread to Italy where he was known As Quot Bel Martino Quot and to France where he was called Quot Beau  no other German artist before Albrecht Diirner was so Well known. It is reported that the Young Durer was so fascinated by Schonbauer s work that he made a pilgrimage to Colmar to pay homage to the master and perhaps join his studio. Unfortunately it was was too late Schonbauer died before Durer arrived. Schonbauer born in Colmar around 1450, came from a Long line of Goldsmiths who can be traced Back to Augsburg in Germany. The family was known As solid burghers and Martin s father was a member of the City Council. Schonbauer spent several years practising his Trade on the Road working in the Lake Constance area and in France Italy and Spain. He returned to Colmar in 1469, and began learning painting from a neighbor Caspar Isenmann. Four years later Schonbauer painted the Virgin in the Rosebush a work of such remarkable Quality that it remains one of the High Points of medieval Art. In his lifetime Schonbauer created hundreds of engravings paintings and sculptures of equally remarkable Quality. He influenced Many artists of the times most notably Durer. Schonbauer died in 1491 around the age of 40. The last seven years of his life Schonbauer lived across the Rhine River in the town of Briesach. The magnificent exhibit commemorating the 500th anniversary of Schonbauer s death at the Unte Linden museum last year collected his works from various museums. Museum officials said it was the most successful exhibit in the history of the museum drawing visitors from All Over the1 world. Red Reavis a pen and Ink drawing of an Oriental woman by Schonbauer. Schonbauer s most famous painting Quot Virgin in the Rosebush exhibit at the dominican Church. A amps Dav Case is on 12 stripes Magazine june 11,1992