This work belongs to a main work and consists of multiple parts

Predella of the High Altarpiece of the Dominican Church in Frankfurt, 1501

Gesamtmaß mit Rahmen: 76.3 x 277.5 x 5.5 cm

Physical Description: Mixed technique on spruce

Inventory Number: HM 17-20; LG 1

Acquisition: On permanent loan from the Historisches Museum Frankfurt since 1922, Last Supper on permanent loan from the General Association of the Catholic Church Community in Frankfurt am Main since 1964

Status: See Parts

Texts

About the Work

Along with the Crucifixion scene in the now-lost pinnacle that once crowned the altarpiece, the predella (the pedestal on which the main shrine stands) was always on view, regardless of whether it was an ordinary weekday, a Sunday, or a holiday. The images on the predella illustrate the events of the first half of Holy Week, the beginning of Christ’s Passion. The artist has highlighted the scene of the Last Supper by making it larger than the others and prominently placing it in the centre of the composition. Together with the Crucifixion in the pinnacle, the Last Supper formed a striking vertical axis of symbolic imagery that referenced the liturgical re-enactment of the Last Supper and Jesus’ death on the cross in the celebration of the Mass at the high altar in the Dominican Church.

Audio

Basic information

01:01
Focus on Frankfurt

01:35
Focus on art history

01:51
Focus on material

01:50

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Predella of the High Altarpiece of the Dominican Church in Frankfurt

Painter

Hans Holbein the Elder

Altar: High Altar of the Dominican Church in Frankfurt

Panel interior: The Entry into Jerusalem; The Cleansing of the Temple; Christ Washing St Peter's Feet; The Agony in the Garden; The Last Supper

Period Produced

16th century

School

Renaissance

Object Type

painting (artwork)

Physical Description: Mixed technique on spruce

Material

spruce wood

Technique

mixed technique

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

permanent loan

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Dauerleihgabe des Historischen Museums Frankfurt am Main und des Gesamtverbands der Katholischen Kirchengemeinden in Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Acquisition: On permanent loan from the Historisches Museum Frankfurt since 1922, Last Supper on permanent loan from the General Association of the Catholic Church Community in Frankfurt am Main since 1964

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

Main Motif

Persons Shown

Illustrated Passage

siehe Einzeldarstellung

Iconclass

Primary

73D14 entry into Jerusalem: people spreading their clothes before Christ on the ass, and waving palm branches (Matthew 21:1-11, 21:14-16; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)
73D15 purification of the temple ('first' and 'second'): Christ driving the money-changers from the temple with a whip (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46; John 12:12-19)
73D231 Christ washes Peter's feet
73D312 Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane during the night
73D31211 agony of Christ; three (or eleven) apostles sleeping
11I72(JUDAS ISCARIOT) Judas Iscariot (not in biblical context)
73D24 Last Supper (in general) (Matthew 26:21-35; Mark 14:18-31; Luke 22:3, 22:15-23; John 13:21-38)
73D242 Judas Iscariot is revealed as Christ's betrayer (communion of Judas)