Isenheim Altarpiece
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Isenheim Altarpiece
The Isenheim Altarpiece is an
altarpiece painted by the German artist
Matthias Grünewald in 1506-1515. It
is on display at the Unterlinden
Museum at Colmar, Alsace, now in
France.
By far his greatest, as well as his
largest work, it was painted for the
Monastery of St. Anthony in Isenheim
near Colmar, which specialized in
hospital work. The Antonine monks of
the monastery were noted for their care
of plague sufferers as well as their
treatment of skin diseases, such as
ergotism. The image of the crucified
Christ is pitted with plague-type sores,
showing patients that Jesus understood
and shared their afflictions.
Isenheim altarpiece - first view.
Composition
The altarpiece has two sets of wings,
displaying three configurations. The
first view shows a Crucifixion scene,
flanked by images of Saint Anthony
and Saint Sebastian. There is a predella
with a Lamentation of Christ, which
remains in the second view also. When
the outermost wings are opened, the
second view shows scenes of the
Third view
Annunciation, the original subject of
Mary
bathing
Jesus
to
the
accompaniment of an Angelic choir (or various other titles), and the Resurrection. The innermost view shows the
Temptation of Saint Anthony and the Meeting of Saint Anthony and the Hermit Paul to the sides, and a pre-existing
carved gilt-wood altarpiece by Nikolaus Hagenauer of about 1490. Now the altarpiece has been dis-assembled (and
sawn through) so that all the views can be seen separately, except that the original sculpted altarpiece is no longer
flanked by the panels of the third view, which are instead shown together. Carved wood elements at the top and
bottom of the composition were lost in the French Revolution, when the whole painting survived nearly being
destroyed.
Isenheim Altarpiece
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Iconography
The iconography of the altarpiece has several unusual elements, several derived from closely following the accounts
left by Saint Bridget of Sweden of her mystical visions. These had long had a significant influence on art, especially
on depictions of the Nativity of Christ, a scene not included here. The crucifixion includes Saint John the Baptist,
long dead by Gospel chronology.
Gallery
Second view
In situ.
Isenheim
Altarpiece: The
Resurrection
References
• Snyder, James, Northern Renaissance Art. Prentice Hall, Inc., and Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1985. ISBN
0-8109-1081-0
External links
• Article in the Smithsonian Magazine (http://www.stanleymeisler.com/smithsonian/
smithsonian-1999-09-grunewald.html)
• Two appreciations by Joris Carl Huysmans (http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/jkh/grunewald.html)
• Encounter with Grunewald, in Currents in Theology and Mission, Feb, 2004, by Roy A. Harrisville - Useful
summary of the history of the reception of the painting (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MDO/
is_1_31/ai_114050791/pg_1)
Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors
Isenheim Altarpiece Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=475330441 Contributors: 2D, Andycjp, Auntof6, Ceoil, Dangerousartman, David Warner, E2eamon, EncycloPetey,
Euchiasmus, Eusebio42, GL, Georgelazenby, Hmains, IW.HG, Insert coins, Johnbod, Lapisphil, Mattis, McSly, Melancholia i, Mild Bill Hiccup, Olivier, Outriggr, Petropoxy (Lithoderm Proxy),
Rajah, Raven in Orbit, Ricky81682, SchuminWeb, Sojournerjake, Tchoutoye, Tupelo*honey, Vanished User 1004, VegitaU, 26 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:Mathis Gothart Grünewald 019.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mathis_Gothart_Grünewald_019.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors:
AndreasPraefcke, FA2010, Mylius, Olivier2, Shakko, Viatoro
Image:Grunewald Isenheim3.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Grunewald_Isenheim3.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: BMK,
Edelseider, Eugene a, Jacek Rossakiewicz, Miaow Miaow, Olivier2, 4 anonymous edits
Image:Grunewald Isenheim2.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Grunewald_Isenheim2.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Bogdan, Denniss, Jacek
Rossakiewicz, Mattis, Miaow Miaow, Olivier2, OsamaK
Image:Chapel of Musée d'Unterlinden with Isenheim altarpiece.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Chapel_of_Musée_d'Unterlinden_with_Isenheim_altarpiece.jpg
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Contributors: Claude Le Berre from Selestat, France
Image:Grunewald - christ.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Grunewald_-_christ.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Coyau, Edelseider, Grenavitar, Javier
Carro, Johann, Mathiasrex, Miaow Miaow, Olivier2, OsamaK, Petrusbarbygere, Shakko
License
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