Altarpiece of the Church Fathers (Pacher)  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
Revision as of 12:18, 6 November 2010
Jahsonic (Talk | contribs)

← Previous diff
Revision as of 12:19, 6 November 2010
Jahsonic (Talk | contribs)

Next diff →
Line 3: Line 3:
[[Image:Michael Pacher detail.jpg|thumb|200px|Detail]] [[Image:Michael Pacher detail.jpg|thumb|200px|Detail]]
{{Template}} {{Template}}
-[[Michael Pacher]]'s most famous work, the Altarpiece of St. Wolfgang is kept at the Church of St. Wolfgang on the Abersee in Austria. The altarpiece is a polyptych, or Wandelaltar, where a painting is often divided into four or more segments or panels. There are two pairs of movable wings, and three clearly different viewpoints for use on different circumstances; one for every day views, Sunday views, and then views for special holy days. Commissioned for Abbot Benedict Eck of Mondsee in 1471 and completed in 1481, the giant polyptych has two sets of wings that can be closed across the inner corpus with the sculptured Coronation presenting a majestic array of huge Gothic figures dominated by the beautifully kneeling Madonna. The carved and painted gold centerpiece is visible when the inner panels are open, and represent the Coronation of the Virgin. The outer two pairs of painted wings represent four scenes from of Saint Wolfgang. Wolfgang was appointed as bishop Benedictine of Ratisbon, where he established himself radiantly for his revolutionary passions and also for his skills as statesman. The entire altarpiece is overshadowed by an elaborate wooden structure that is placed on top, enclosing the Crucifixion. In the centerpiece Christ is sitting on a throne sincerely blessing Mary, whom he has crowned as the Queen of Heaven. In keeping with the traditions of German Gothic art, angels are fluttering around while John the Evangelist looks on. The inner faces of the second panels, on both sides of the carved body, are painted with scenes from the life of the Virgin.+[[Michael Pacher]]'s most famous work, the Altarpiece of St. Wolfgang is kept at the Church of [[St. Wolfgang]] on the [[Abersee]] in Austria. The altarpiece is a [[polyptych]], or [[Wandelaltar]], where a painting is often divided into four or more segments or panels. There are two pairs of movable wings, and three clearly different viewpoints for use on different circumstances; one for every day views, Sunday views, and then views for special holy days. Commissioned for Abbot Benedict [[Eck of Mondsee]] in 1471 and completed in 1481, the giant polyptych has two sets of wings that can be closed across the inner corpus with the sculptured Coronation presenting a majestic array of huge Gothic figures dominated by the beautifully kneeling Madonna. The carved and painted gold centerpiece is visible when the inner panels are open, and represent the Coronation of the Virgin. The outer two pairs of painted wings represent four scenes from of Saint Wolfgang. Wolfgang was appointed as bishop Benedictine of Ratisbon, where he established himself radiantly for his revolutionary passions and also for his skills as statesman. The entire altarpiece is overshadowed by an elaborate wooden structure that is placed on top, enclosing the Crucifixion. In the centerpiece Christ is sitting on a throne sincerely blessing Mary, whom he has crowned as the Queen of Heaven. In keeping with the traditions of German [[Gothic art]], angels are fluttering around while [[John the Evangelist]] looks on. The inner faces of the second panels, on both sides of the carved body, are painted with scenes from the life of the Virgin.
Keeping the size of the project in mind, it is believed that Pacher was not the only artist who has contributed to the altarpiece. It is supposed that his own brother Friedrich Pacher, painted the outer pieces of work depicting scenes from the life of Saint Wolfgang that are visible only when the altarpiece is closed shut. Nevertheless, the inner paintings all seem to have been completed by Michael Pacher himself. Keeping the size of the project in mind, it is believed that Pacher was not the only artist who has contributed to the altarpiece. It is supposed that his own brother Friedrich Pacher, painted the outer pieces of work depicting scenes from the life of Saint Wolfgang that are visible only when the altarpiece is closed shut. Nevertheless, the inner paintings all seem to have been completed by Michael Pacher himself.
{{GFDL}} {{GFDL}}

Revision as of 12:19, 6 November 2010

Image:Altar piece at Brixen.jpg
Wolfgang und der Teufel ("Saint Wolfgang and the Devil") panel of Pacher's Kirchenväteraltar ("Fathers of the Church" altarpiece, c. 1483), on display at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
The Wolfgang panel is on the outside right (i.e. on the back of the Augustine panel), and would have been only visible to church-goers when the altar was closed, i.e. when no service was being held.

Related e

Wikipedia
Wiktionary
Shop


Featured:

Michael Pacher's most famous work, the Altarpiece of St. Wolfgang is kept at the Church of St. Wolfgang on the Abersee in Austria. The altarpiece is a polyptych, or Wandelaltar, where a painting is often divided into four or more segments or panels. There are two pairs of movable wings, and three clearly different viewpoints for use on different circumstances; one for every day views, Sunday views, and then views for special holy days. Commissioned for Abbot Benedict Eck of Mondsee in 1471 and completed in 1481, the giant polyptych has two sets of wings that can be closed across the inner corpus with the sculptured Coronation presenting a majestic array of huge Gothic figures dominated by the beautifully kneeling Madonna. The carved and painted gold centerpiece is visible when the inner panels are open, and represent the Coronation of the Virgin. The outer two pairs of painted wings represent four scenes from of Saint Wolfgang. Wolfgang was appointed as bishop Benedictine of Ratisbon, where he established himself radiantly for his revolutionary passions and also for his skills as statesman. The entire altarpiece is overshadowed by an elaborate wooden structure that is placed on top, enclosing the Crucifixion. In the centerpiece Christ is sitting on a throne sincerely blessing Mary, whom he has crowned as the Queen of Heaven. In keeping with the traditions of German Gothic art, angels are fluttering around while John the Evangelist looks on. The inner faces of the second panels, on both sides of the carved body, are painted with scenes from the life of the Virgin.

Keeping the size of the project in mind, it is believed that Pacher was not the only artist who has contributed to the altarpiece. It is supposed that his own brother Friedrich Pacher, painted the outer pieces of work depicting scenes from the life of Saint Wolfgang that are visible only when the altarpiece is closed shut. Nevertheless, the inner paintings all seem to have been completed by Michael Pacher himself.



Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Altarpiece of the Church Fathers (Pacher)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

Personal tools