Candida Höfer’s Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen III encapsulates the grandeur of one of the world’s oldest monastic libraries, the Abbey Library of St. Gallen, captured with her signature encyclopaedic precision. This editioned photograph, one of only six, Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen I housed in the Tate Collection, presents a rare glimpse into the Baroque splendour of the space. Höfer’s elevated vantage point offers a commanding view of the library’s ornate display cases and intricately patterned wooden floor, framed by rows of meticulously arranged books. The strong horizontal lines of the shelves create a sense of ordered calm, while the curving alcoves and serpentine balcony inject a dynamic rhythm to the scene. Höfer created two versions of this work – one featuring blurry, spectral figures as they move through the space, and the current version, which, more typical of the artist, depicts the library devoid of its occupants.

As part of Höfer’s broader series documenting libraries across Europe and North America, this work exemplifies her objective, distanced approach to architectural spaces. The vaulted ceiling – perhaps the library's most resplendent architectural feature –dominates the upper third of the image, pulling the viewer deeper into the recesses of the space. Höfer’s lens captures the soaring, frescoed ceiling with dramatic intensity, flattening the perspective and magnifying the Rococo cornicing and intricate decorative schemes. The inclusion of a decorative metal balustrade further accentuates the complexity of the Baroque design.