Author: Berend Boddecker (?–1618)
Date: 1605
Material: stone, plaster, polychrome
Technique: forging, masonry, painting
Dimensions, mm:
Restoration: the end of 19th century
The epitaph to Riga city Councillor Theodor Rigemann (1529 – 1605?).
The central part of the epitaph depicting the Rigemann family members kneeling down at Calvary has not survived. Only the drawing by Johann Christoph Brotze (1742–1823) is known, featuring the family praying at the Calvary: three men to the left and three women to the right. The frame consists of small diamond-shaped blocks. Allegories of Christian virtues are placed in both side-niches: the left-hand figure lacks attributes and the text has also faded, the right side features FIDES (Faith) with a cross. In the centre of the second level, there is the relief “Resurrection of Christ” flanked by male and female herms and Biblical quotes, a naked angel reclines on both side-volutes. The top pediment shows God the Father. Scrollwork, strapwork and floral ornaments contribute to the oval silhouette.
Inscriptions to the left of the “Resurrection of Christ” relief, there is an illegible quote from the Gospel of John; to the right of the “Resurrection of Christ” relief, an illegible quote from First Corinthians; over the lost central field:
CHRISTI LEIDEN VNDT STERBEN MACHT / DAS ICH DES THORS GAR WEINICH ACHT. / DAN CHRISTVS IST MEIN LEBEN. STERBEN IST MEIN GWIN / DEM HAB ICH MICH ERGEBEN. DAMIT FAR ICH VON HIN;
in the place of the lost relief: Renovat Aō 1912;
below the relief the restored text is partially legible: THEODORVS RIGEMAN NATVS ANNO M D XXIX: / PIETATE INTEGRITATE VRT TE PRVDENTI ET HVM / … NITAT EXE …NS / AN SENATORUM MVNVS ANNO M D LXXIX …/ PATRI MORTVO STATIM EODEM ANNO IN SENATORIA DIGNITATE SVCCESSIT / TANDEM SIBI OVIDEM NEC PR.. CATVRE INFELICITER· SED REIPVB / NTEMPESTIVE MATRI QVO..X NOBILISSIMA FAMILIA ORTAE ELISABETA / A BERGEN. ITEM VXORI ..ERS ETAMICIS LVCTVOSE LECESSIT ANNO SALVT / M.DCV DIE XVII NOVEMB. AETAT. XXXIV;
below the Rigemann’s coat of arms:
H. DITRICH RIGEMAN;
below his wife’s coat of arms: ELISABETH ZVM BERGE.