The singers’ gallery was first mentioned in the Cathedrals documents as early as of 1578 as the “nye cantorey”, in other cases also the “chorus musicus”.
In 1622 it was explained that “schoolboys sing” there but in 1785 there was a mention that “Passion music is performed in this place every year”.
The origins of the railings and paintings of the gallery have not been fully researched. According to Head of conservation of 19. Century conservation works and art history researcher Dr. V. Neumann, the paintings have survived from the first half of the 18th century. Probably these paintings belongs to the few 18th century samples in the territory of Latvia. However, it is possible that the paintings are older. The paintings are made on a roughly treated wooden base with oil paints. The colors of these paintings are difficult to judge due to the darkened and blackened layer of varnish. Currently, these paintings are in a relatively poor state of conservation.
Inscriptions:
Above the all paintings is an inscription in German:
«WER WIL DIE AVSERWEHLTEN GOTTES BESCHVLDIGEN? GOTT IST HIE DER DA GERECHT MACHET, WER WIL VERDAMMEN ? CHRISTVS IST HIE DER GESTORBEN IST IA VIELMEHR DER AVCH AVFFERWECKET IST WELCHER IST ZV RECHTEN GOTTES VND VERTRITT VNS. ROM. 8»
«Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.» (Rom. 8-33:34)
Paintings from the left:
St. Simon, Decorative vase, Evangelist John, Evangelist John, Evangelist Luke, Evangelist Mark, Evangelist Matthew, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Decorative vase
Author: Unknown
Date: mid-18th century
Technique: oil painting
Material: wood, oil paints
Dimensions: 1600 × 800 mm.
The painting “St. Simon”
St. Simon is depicted in the first fragment above the stairs. The saint is depicted in a counter-view, as an older man with gray hair and a beard. St. Simon holds an open book in his left hand, while with his right hand he sorts through the pages of the book.
St. Simon’s death tool – a saw is in the lower left corner of the painting.
The painting “Evangelist John”
Evangelist John is depicted in full size, turned to the left, head in profile. The evangelist had a cup in his right hand, his left arm bent at the elbow, containing a red cloak thrown over his left shoulder. Under the cloak gray suit. The symbol of the evangelist an eagle is in the lower right corner of the painting.
The painting “Evangelist Luke”
Evangelist Luke is depicted in full size, in front view, with his symbol – a bull, depicted in the lower left corner. Feather in the apostle’s right hand, book in the left.
Under the Painting inscription „S. LUCAS”
The painting “Evangelist Matthew”
Evangelist Matthew is one of the disciples of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of Matthew. Before Jesus called him, he was a tax collector. Matthew devoted his life to preaching the gospel.
“Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me, ”he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him”(Mt9:9)
The apostle Matthew is depicted in full size, in front view, with his symbol –an angel, depicted in the upper left corner. Feather for writing in the apostle’s right hand, book in the left.
Under the Painting inscription „S.MATHEVS”
The painting “Evangelist Markus”
Evangelist Markus is depicted in full height, in profile turned left. The evangelist is depicted as middle-aged man, with dark hair and a beard. Right leg bent in the knee. With his left hand, he holds the book backed against his bent knee. The evangelist has a writing feather in his right hand, with which he writes in the book. The costume is a light, over-thrown, gray-green cloak.
The symbol of the evangelist – a lion is depicted in the lower right corner of the painting.
Under the Painting inscription „S. MARCUS”.
The painting “John the Baptist”
John the Baptist is the son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth. John preached the repentance from sins in the wilderness of Judea and baptized in the Jordan. He also baptized Jesus.
King Herod, to please Solome, had beheaded John the Baptist.
John the Baptist is depicted in the Cathedral in two places – on the door of the pulpit and in the singers’ gallery. In the singers’ gallery, John the Baptist is shown in full height, in front view, head turned to the right, facing downward, with his left arm outstretched, raised to shoulder height. In his right-hand a cross with a light ribbon. From the inscription on the ribbon, only the letters are visible “…..ECCE AGN….” These letters are excerpts from the Latin words that John says about Jesus ECCE AGNUS DEI ” Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
In the lower right corner of the painting, a lamb pressed to the evangelist’s left foot.
Under the Painting inscription “S. JOHANNES MAIOR”.
The painting “Jesus Christ”
The Bible shows Jesus Christ not only as the son of God who came into the world suffered, died, and rose so that we may have a remission of sins. The Bible shows that Jesus will come as ruler at the end of time. Already, He is the true ruler of the world, who cares for those who follow Him. Also, Christian art depicts Jesus as a ruler. There are two such images of Jesus in the Riga Cathedral: a sculpture in the pulpit and a painting in a student balcony.
Christ is depicted in full height, in a counter-view. In His left hand, He holds an apple of power and a golden cross, in the right hand – raised high in a blessing gesture. Dressed in a greenish, richly pleated robe, over which a red cloak is thrown. This painting belongs to the few found samples in the territory of Latvia from the 18th century. The painting is executed on a roughly treated wooden base with oil paints. It is difficult to judge the color of these paintings due to the darkened and blackened varnish layer.
Under the Painting inscription „CHRISTUS”
The painting “Dekoratīvās vāzes”
The semicircular panels at both ends of the balcony are filled with decorative vase paintings.
Vases have a rounded leg, which serves as the base for expanded acanthus leaves supporting a cylindrical urn adorned with double threads of bay leaves. The urn is covered by a lid that closes with an acanthus rosette.
St. Cecilia`s relief
The tab depicts St. Cecilia playing the organ positive. The instrument is in the centre of the composition and turned sideways towards the viewer. On the left seats St. Cecilia at the organ and plays music.
On the right – the front edge of the organ, which is decorated with the popular Renaissance motif – the bull’s skull, stands an angel. His hands, covered by a row of pipes, are supposed to be working the bellows of an organ.
A harp and a lute are placed in the lower right corner of the foreground.
Author: unknown
Date: 17th century middle
Material: Wood, polychrome
Technique: woodcuting, relief
Dimensions, mm: 770×770
Restauration: