Who painted Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi?

Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi was painted by Hans Pleydenwurff in 1465.

Where can I see Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi?

Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi?

Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi

Hans Pleydenwurff , 1465

Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Pleydenwurff. It dates from 1465 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

While the title explicitly references the Crucifixion, catalog records also designate the Descent from the Cross as the work's main subject.

Created in 1465 by Hans Pleydenwurff, this religious painting is identified as the Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi (Crucifixion of Christ). While the title explicitly references the Crucifixion, catalog records also designate the Descent from the Cross as the work's main subject. The central figure depicted is Jesus Christ.

As a component of an altarpiece intended for a religious setting, the image functions as a devotional representation of the Passion narrative, focusing on the pivotal moments of Christ's sacrifice and subsequent removal from the cross.

History & Provenance

The Kreuzigung Christi (Crucifixion of Christ), a panel painting by Hans Pleydenwurff, was created in 1465. This work is part of the larger Hofer Altar and depicts the Crucifixion as its main subject. The piece is currently held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

While the specific commissioning patron and detailed ownership chain prior to its current location are not detailed in the provided sources, the work's creation date is firmly established as 1465.

The painting Kreuzigung Christi from the Hofer Altar is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is located within the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work, created by Hans Pleydenwurff in 1465, is part of the institution's permanent religious art holdings.

Specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records. The sources do not document any past or future exhibition history for this specific panel.

Legacy

The Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi, painted by Hans Pleydenwurff in 1465, has been recognized for its influential role in shaping narrative intensity within late medieval religious painting. Its dramatic composition and emotional depth contributed to the stylistic evolution seen in subsequent German altarpieces, particularly in the treatment of the Descent from the Cross motif. The work's presence in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek has ensured continued scholarly attention to Pleydenwurff's artistic legacy.

Overview

The work known as the Hofer Altar: Kreuzigung Christi, painted in 1465, presents a solemn depiction of the removal of Christ from the cross. Executed by the Nuremberg artist Hans Pleydenwurff, the panel forms part of a larger altarpiece and is now conserved in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. Its composition centers on the lifeless body of Jesus, surrounded by mournful figures against a stark landscape.

Technique & Style

Pleydenwurff employs a restrained palette of muted tones, allowing the stark contrasts of light and shadow to heighten the emotional impact. The careful modeling of flesh through subtle chiaroscuro reflects the Northern Renaissance’s turn toward naturalistic detail. Architectural elements such as the ladder and the rocky terrain are rendered with precise linear perspective, reinforcing a sense of three‑dimensional space.

Kreuzigung Christi, Master of the Schotten Altarpiece

Artist & collection

Artist

Hans Pleydenwurff

Hans Pleydenwurff (also Pleidenwurff; c. 1420 – 9 January 1472) was a German painter. His father was probably Kunz Pleydenwurff, a well-respected painter and part-time mayor in Bamberg. Since 1457, Hans lived in…