Master of the Stauffenberg Altarpiece
Encyclopedia
The Master of the Stauffenberg Altarpiece is a 15th century Anonymous Master
from or around Alsace
, stylistically influenced by Rogier van der Weyden.
His name derives from a triptych
kept in the Unterlinden Museum, Colmar
, since its creation. The altarpiece
had been painted between 1454 and 1460 at the behest of Hans Erhard Bock von Stauffenberg, the bailiff
of Rouffach
, and his wife Aennelin of Oberkirch
, 1454 being the year of both person's marriage and 1460 being the year in which Aennelin is first documented as a widow. The two commissionners are represented on the outer panels next to a Crucifixion
and have been identified by their coats of arms.
Once opened, the Stauffenberg altarpiece represents, from left to right, the Annunciation
, the Descent from the Cross
and the Nativity
, two joys of Mary
framing one of her sorrows
. It was kept in the Monastery of St. Anthony in Isenheim near Colmar for which Matthias Grünewald
subsequently painted his Isenheim Altarpiece
.
Anonymous masters
In the history of art and architecture, an anonymous master is an architect, Old Master painter, or printmaker whose work is known, but whose name is not.-Pre-Renaissance:...
from or around Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, stylistically influenced by Rogier van der Weyden.
His name derives from a triptych
Triptych
A triptych , from tri-= "three" + ptysso= "to fold") is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works...
kept in the Unterlinden Museum, Colmar
Colmar
Colmar is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is the capital of the department. Colmar is also the seat of the highest jurisdiction in Alsace, the appellate court....
, since its creation. The altarpiece
Altarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
had been painted between 1454 and 1460 at the behest of Hans Erhard Bock von Stauffenberg, the bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
of Rouffach
Rouffach
Rouffach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Rouffach lies along the Alsatian wine route ....
, and his wife Aennelin of Oberkirch
Oberkirch (Baden)
Oberkirch is a town in Western Baden-Württemberg, Germany about 12 km North-East of Offenburg and belongs to the Ortenaukreis district....
, 1454 being the year of both person's marriage and 1460 being the year in which Aennelin is first documented as a widow. The two commissionners are represented on the outer panels next to a Crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
and have been identified by their coats of arms.
Once opened, the Stauffenberg altarpiece represents, from left to right, the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
, the Descent from the Cross
Descent from the Cross
The Descent from the Cross , or Deposition of Christ, is the scene, as depicted in art, from the Gospels' accounts of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus taking Christ down from the cross after his crucifixion . In Byzantine art the topic became popular in the 9th century, and in the West from the...
and the Nativity
Nativity of Jesus
The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the birth of Jesus in two of the Canonical gospels and in various apocryphal texts....
, two joys of Mary
Seven Joys of the Virgin
The Seven Joys of the Virgin is a popular devotion to events of the life of the Virgin Mary, arising from a trope of medieval devotional literature and art....
framing one of her sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows , the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows , and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to sorrows in her life...
. It was kept in the Monastery of St. Anthony in Isenheim near Colmar for which Matthias Grünewald
Matthias Grünewald
Matthias Grünewald or "Mathis" , "Gothart" or "Neithardt" , , was a German Renaissance painter of religious works, who ignored Renaissance classicism to continue the expressive and intense style of late medieval Central European art into the 16th century.Only ten paintings—several consisting...
subsequently painted his Isenheim Altarpiece
Isenheim Altarpiece
The Isenheim Altarpiece is an altarpiece painted by the German artist Matthias Grünewald in 1506-1515. It is on display at the Unterlinden Museum at Colmar, Alsace, now in France....
.
Source
- Le Musée Unterlinden de Colmar, Sylvie Lecoq-Ramond & Pantxika Béguerie, Éditions Albin MichelÉditions Albin MichelÉditions Albin Michel is a French publisher. It was founded in 1911 by Albin Michel.-External links:*...
, Paris, 1991. ISBN 2-226-05411-1 (p. 43)