Stationary Wings of the Heller Altarpiece with 
Sts. Lawrence and Cyriacus, Mathis Gothart Nithart called Grünewald
Mathis Gothart Nithart called Grünewald
Stationary Wings of the Heller Altarpiece with Sts. Lawrence and Cyriacus
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Mathis Gothart Nithart called Grünewald

Stationary Wings of the Heller Altarpiece with Sts. Lawrence and Cyriacus, ca. 1509 – 1510


Der heilige Laurentius
99.1 x 43.0 x 1.3 cm
Der heilige Cyriakus
99.1 x 42.8 x 1.2 cm
Physical Description
Mixed technique on fir
Inventory Number
HM 36; HM 37
Acquisition
On permanent loan from Historisches Museum Frankfurt am Main since 1922
Status
See Parts

Texts

About the Work

In 1507 the Frankfurt merchant Jakob Heller commissioned Dürer to paint the central panel and wings of a retable for the city’s Dominican church. Grünewald executed these panels to serve as fixed wings for the same. They depict two deacons: Lawrence with the grid on which he was burnt to death, and Cyriacus, an exorcist who freed a princess of her demon. The panels are masterpieces of grisaille painting, whose realistic appearance confronts the viewer with the question as to what he actually has in front of him – a work of painting, a sculpture, or nature itself?

Audio

  • Basic information
    01:21
  • Focus on Frankfurt
    01:51

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
Stationary Wings of the Heller Altarpiece with Sts. Lawrence and Cyriacus
Painter
Panel exterior
Saint Lawrence
Saint Cyriacus
Period Produced
School
Object Type
Physical Description
Mixed technique on fir
Material
Technique
Label at the Time of Manufacture
Bezeichnet unten rechts: *MG*N*

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Administration
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Dauerleihgabe des Historischen Museums Frankfurt am Main
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
On permanent loan from Historisches Museum Frankfurt am Main since 1922

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif
Persons Shown
Associated Persons and Institutions
Associated Source
  • Die Legenda aurea des Jacobus de Voragine, übersetzt von Richard Benz, Heidelberg 1984

Iconclass

Primary
  • 11H(LAURENCE) the martyr and deacon Laurence of Rome; possible attributes: book, censer, cross, dalmatic, gridiron, palm, purse (or cup with golden coins)
  • 11H(CYRIACUS)51 St. Cyriacus of Rome as exorcist: he delivers the daughter of emperor Diocletian, Artemia, from the possession by a devil; he reads from his book and winds his stole round her neck

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Last update

15.05.2023