This work consists of multiple parts

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Part

Kölner Meister: Madonna mit Kind, um 1320-1330, Mischtechnik auf Holz, 132 x 60 cm, Leihgabe aus Privatbesitz im Bayerischen Nationalmuseum, München, seit 2015 als Leihgabe im Städel Museum

Rhenish Master ca. 1330

The Wings of the Altenberg Altarpiece, ca. 1330

Left wing: Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi Right wing: St. Michael, Coronation of the Virgin, St. Elizabeth, Death of the Virgin

Gesamtmaß: 153.7 x 243.8 x 6.3 cm

Physical Description: Mixed technique on fir

Inventory Number: SG 358-361

Acquisition: Acquired in 1925

Status: See Parts

Texts

About the Work

The wings of the retable from Altenberg, near Wetzlar, flanked a section featuring at its centre a sculpture of the Madonna, the convent’s main patron saint. It is to her that the Three Wise Men on the left wing are kneeling in adoration. The scenes from the life of the Virgin are joined by depictions of the archangel Michael and St Elizabeth of Thuringia, whose daughter Gertrude was the abbess at Altenberg for many years. The elegant two-dimensionality of the robed figures with their slender limbs is typical of the early fourteenth-century High Gothic style.

Audio

Basic information

01:30
Focus on art history

02:13
Focus on religion

01:55

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: The Wings of the Altenberg Altarpiece
Left wing: Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi Right wing: St. Michael, Coronation of the Virgin, St. Elizabeth, Death of the Virgin

Painter

Rhenish Master ca. 1330

Panel interior: Annunciation and Nativity; Visitation and Adoration of the Magi; Saints Michael and Elizabeth of Hungary; Coronation and Death of the Virgin

Part: Shrine of the Altenberg Altar

Period Produced

14th century

School

Late Middle Ages

Object Type

painting (artwork)

Physical Description: Mixed technique on fir

Material

Technique

mixed technique

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Gabriels Spruchband in der Verkündigungsdarstellung: AVE + MARIA + GRACIA + PLENA+ D[OMI]N[U]S + TECU[M] (Lk 1,28, "Gegrüßet seist du, Maria, voll der Gnade, Der Herr ist mit Dir!")
Spruchband der Heimsuchungsdarstellung: EXQ[U]o + F[A]C[T]A + E[ST] + S[A]L[UT]AC[I]O + EX[U]LTAV[IT] + I[N]FA[N]S + I[N]UT[ER]O+ MEO (Lk 1,44, "In dem Augenblick, als ich Deinen Gruß hörte, hüpfte das Kind vor Freude in meinem Leib.")

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

Städtische Galerie

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Acquisition: Acquired in 1925

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

Persons Shown

Illustrated Passage

siehe Einzeldarstellung

Iconclass

Primary

73A521 the Annunciation: Mary standing
11G1921 angel(s) with book(-scroll) or banderole
73B131 Mary reclining in bed or on a couch, looking at the Christ-child
73A622 Mary and Elisabeth, both pregnant, embracing
73B57 adoration of the kings: the Wise Men present their gifts to the Christ-child (gold, frankincense and myrrh)
11G31 the Archangel Michael fighting the dragon (devil, Satan)
11HH(ELISABETH OF HUNGARY)5 miraculous activities and events ~ St. Elisabeth of Hungary
73E792 coronation of Mary by Christ
73E741 Christ appears and takes Mary's soul ('assumptio animae')