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Sculpture

Domestic altar

Key data

dated 1484

Upper Rhine area

Limewood, shrine with figures carved and painted, wings painted on both sides

height 36 cm, width (open) 56 cm

Inv. 1977.256.

Description

This shrine, which is dated 1484 on the base, is a miniature version of a full scale winged church altarpiece and functioned as such for private worship at home. With the wings closed it shows the Annunciation with a detailed representation of a Late Gothic chamber. Open, the shrine depicts the Passion of Christ, centered on the carved group of the dead Christ held by an angel between the Virgin and St John. On the inside of the wings, the suffering of Christ in the Flagellation and the Crowning with Thorns is dramatically represented. For these scenes the unknown painter used two engravings by Martin Schongauer as models.

Selection of similar objects

 
Contact

Basel Historical Museum
Management & administration
Steinenberg 4
PO box
CH – 4001 Basel

Reception: +41 61 205 86 00
historisches.museum(at)bs.ch

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