Notker Physicus

Who was Notker Physicus?

Notker Physicus, sometimes called Notker II, was a physician, painter, and composer. Besides physicus, he was also nicknamed piperis granum on account of his strict discipline.

Concerning his life we only know that in 956 or 957 he became cellarius, and in 965 hospitarius at the Abbey of Saint Gall. He made several paintings, which were extolled by Ekkehard IV, who also mentions some antiphons and hymns, including "Rector aeterni metuende secli". Notker is probably to be identified with the Notker notarius who enjoyed great consideration at the court of Otto I of Germany on account of his skill in medicine, and whose knowledge of medical books is celebrated by Ekkehard. In 940 this Notker wrote at Quedlinburg the confirmation of the immunity of Saint Gall. This is in accord with the great partiality later shown by the Ottos towards the monk, as when they visited Saint Gall in 972.

Another Notker, who died on 15 December 975, was a nephew of Notker Physicus. We have no documentary information concerning him until his appointment as Abbot of Saint Gall in 971. Otherwise also the sources are silent concerning him, except that they call him abba benignus and laud his unaffected piety.