The Frankfurt Altarpiece of the Exaltation of the True Cross: The Embarkation of the Empress Helena (left), 1603 – 1605

Title

The Frankfurt Altarpiece of the Exaltation of the True Cross: The Embarkation of the Empress Helena (left)

Painter

• Adam Elsheimer

Altar

The Altarpiece of the Exaltation of the True Cross

Part Number / Total

1 / 7

Period Produced

• 17th century

School

• Baroque

Object Type

• painting (artwork)

Physical Description

Oil on copper

Material

• copper

Technique

• oil

Institution

• Städel Museum

Administration

• Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

• Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline

Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.

Picture Copyright

CC BY-SA 4.0 Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Acquisition

Acquired in 1975 as donation of the Imprimatur Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH and as part of a donation campaign by the Städelscher Museums-Verein, property of the Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.

Genre

• altarpiece
• historical narration
• literary representation

Main Motif

• legend of the Cross
• Helen (Roman empress)
• woman
• child
• man
• group of people

Persons Shown

• Helena (Roman empress)

Associated Persons and Institutions

• Constantine I (Roman emperor)

Illustrated Passage

• Die Legenda aurea des Jacobus de Voragine, übersetzt von Richard Benz, Heidelberg 1984, S. 352, 353

Primary

• 11HH(HELENA)4 non-miraculous activities and events ~ St. Helena
• 46C(+621) traffic and transport (+ getting in; mounting; embarkation)