Tauberbischofsheim altarpiece
Encyclopedia
The Taubischofsheim altarpiece (earlier known as the Karlsruhe altarpiece or Karlsruhe panels; German: Taubischofsheimer Altar, Karlsruher Altar, and Karlsruher Taflen, respectively) is a late work by the German
Renaissance
painter Matthias Grünewald
, probably completed between 1523 and 1525. The earliest written references to the work come from the 18th century, when the altarpiece
was still in the Church of St. Martin in Tauberbischofsheim
. Its original location and the identity of the patron who commissioned it are not known, but it is assumed that they both were in Tauberbischofsheim. The panels, which today are displayed separately, were originally painted on either side of a 196 cm by 152 cm wooden panel. Whether the pieces were the central part of a polyptych
is uncertain, however. In order to display the work in an art museum, the panel was split in half during its first restoration in 1883. The paintings have been in the collection of the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
since 1900.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Renaissance
Northern Renaissance
The Northern Renaissance is the term used to describe the Renaissance in northern Europe, or more broadly in Europe outside Italy. Before 1450 Italian Renaissance humanism had little influence outside Italy. From the late 15th century the ideas spread around Europe...
painter 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...
, probably completed between 1523 and 1525. The earliest written references to the work come from the 18th century, when 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,...
was still in the Church of St. Martin in Tauberbischofsheim
Tauberbischofsheim
Tauberbischofsheim is a German town in the north-east of Baden-Württemberg on the river Tauber with a population of about 13,000. It is the capital of the Main-Tauber district....
. Its original location and the identity of the patron who commissioned it are not known, but it is assumed that they both were in Tauberbischofsheim. The panels, which today are displayed separately, were originally painted on either side of a 196 cm by 152 cm wooden panel. Whether the pieces were the central part of a polyptych
Polyptych
A polyptych generally refers to a painting which is divided into sections, or panels. The terminology that follows is in relevance to the number of panels integrated into a particular piece of work: "diptych" describes a two-part work of art; "triptych" describes a three-part work; "tetraptych"...
is uncertain, however. In order to display the work in an art museum, the panel was split in half during its first restoration in 1883. The paintings have been in the collection of the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
The Staatliche Kunsthalle is an art museum in Karlsruhe, Germany.The museum, created by architect Heinrich Hübsch, opened in 1846 after nine years of work in a neoclassical building next to the Karlsruhe Castle and the Karlsruhe Botanical Garden...
since 1900.