The Isenheim Altarpiece was executed ca. 1515 by Matthias Grünewald for the hospital chapel of Saint Anthony's Monastery in Isenheim in Alsace. The Antonine monks of the monastery were noted for their treatment of sufferers of skin disease, such as ergotism. It's now at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, a nearby town. The altarpiece has a series of folded panels allowing different parts of it to be displayed on various holy days. This panel is one of the joyful ones. There is a very grisly Crucifixion and a scene of St. Anthony being tempted (more like tortured) by bizarre monsters. The diseased sufferers at the monastery would be consoled and inspired by Grünewald's extremely realistic depiction of physical suffering and redemption. The colors in this altarpiece are phenomenal, and the painting is fantastically surreal. http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/duccio/buoninse/index.html
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Isenheim Altarpiece (detail)
The Isenheim Altarpiece was executed ca. 1515 by Matthias Grünewald for the hospital chapel of Saint Anthony's Monastery in Isenheim in Alsace. The Antonine monks of the monastery were noted for their treatment of sufferers of skin disease, such as ergotism. It's now at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, a nearby town. The altarpiece has a series of folded panels allowing different parts of it to be displayed on various holy days. This panel is one of the joyful ones. There is a very grisly Crucifixion and a scene of St. Anthony being tempted (more like tortured) by bizarre monsters. The diseased sufferers at the monastery would be consoled and inspired by Grünewald's extremely realistic depiction of physical suffering and redemption. The colors in this altarpiece are phenomenal, and the painting is fantastically surreal. http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/duccio/buoninse/index.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment