Altarpiece with the Beautiful Virgin of Regensburg and Saints Christopher, Mary Magdalen, Florian and Catherine Standing in Niches, with God the Father Above

Albrecht Altdorfer

Created:

Movement:

1519/38

Renaissance

key Notes:

Gothic Revival, Religious Iconography

Dimensions:

Image/block/sheet: 30.2 × 22 cm (11 15/16 × 8 11/16 in.)

medium:

Woodcut in black on cream laid paper

Difficulty:

Expert

New game

story of the work:

The "Altarpiece with the Beautiful Virgin of Regensburg and Saints Christopher, Mary Magdalen, Florian and Catherine Standing in Niches, with God the Father Above" by Albrecht Altdorfer is a notable example of early 16th-century German religious art, reflecting the artist's intricate attention to detail and his integration of Gothic and Renaissance elements. This work, created during Altdorfer's mature period, exemplifies his skill in combining architectural settings with religious iconography, highlighting the veneration of the Virgin Mary alongside revered saints within a structured, harmonious composition.

Description of the work:

The woodcut "Altarpiece with the Beautiful Virgin of Regensburg and Saints Christopher, Mary Magdalen, Florian and Catherine Standing in Niches, with God the Father Above" by Albrecht Altdorfer features a central depiction of the Virgin Mary, flanked by saints in architectural niches, each rendered with intricate detail and distinct iconographic attributes. Above the central figures, God the Father is portrayed in a celestial sphere, emphasizing the divine hierarchy and spiritual significance of the composition.

Artwork Photograph Source:

Art Institute of Chicago

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