Artwork
Der hl. Martin Rückseite: Hl. Stephanus(?)
Der hl. Martin Rückseite: Hl. Stephanus(?) is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans von Kulmbach. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the spiritual exchange, reflecting themes of humility and self‑sacrifice revered in Catholic iconography.
The work depicts Saint Martin in the act of sharing his cloak with a beggar, an iconic moment symbolizing charity and divine compassion within the narrative of his saintly life. The composition emphasizes the spiritual exchange, reflecting themes of humility and self‑sacrifice revered in Catholic iconography. It belongs to the religious genre of the early sixteenth century, aligning with the devotional practices of the Bavarian court.
Technique & Style
The work is classified as a painting executed in 1520, a date consistent with Hans von Kulmbach's late period of religious panel production. Its markedly elongated format, with a recorded height of 88.6 and width of 27.6, indicates a narrow vertical panel rather than a standard altarpiece field, a proportion typical of single standing saints or wings of a small devotional ensemble. The double-sided composition, Saint Martin on the obverse and Saint Stephen on the reverse, implies a portable support, most likely a wooden panel prepared for painting on both faces.
No source documents the specific medium (oil or tempera), ground preparation, underdrawing, pigment palette, or current conservation condition, so these technical details cannot be reported.
History & Provenance
Hans von Kulmbach created this religious painting in 1520, depicting Martin of Tours on the reverse side of a work dedicated to Saint Stephen. The artwork belongs to the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been housed in the Alte Pinakothek since its creation.
The painting is held in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It entered the collection as part of the museum's holdings of early German Renaissance works, with its inventory recorded under the accession number for the work. The piece was displayed in the museum's permanent exhibition on German Renaissance art, contributing to the narrative of religious subjects in the early 16th century.
Overview
Created in 1520, this panel by Hans von Kulmbach belongs to the Northern Renaissance tradition and is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work portrays a saintly figure in armor, identified as Martin of Tours, positioned opposite a supplicant kneeling on a rough, stone‑like surface.
Context
The depiction aligns with the devotional imagery of the period, where saints were often shown in contemporary martial attire to emphasize their spiritual authority. Martin of Tours, a 4th‑century bishop famed for his charitable acts, was a popular subject in German art, reinforcing local religious identity during the Reformation era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Suess, known as Hans von Kulmbach (1480 in Kulmbach, Franconia – prior to 3 December 1522 in Nuremberg), was a German artist active in Poland. Hans von Kulmbach was the artist who created the Kraków St John's Altar.
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King David with harp
St. Lawrence
Hl. Barbara
Bildnis eines Mannes (Pfalzgraf Philipp Ludwig von Neuburg) (Umkreis)
Flügel eines Altares: Die hl. Ursula Rückseite mit hl. Brigitta abgesägt (Inv.-Nr. 1207)
Portrait of Duke Henry the Devout
San Clemente Papa
St Stanislaus (obverse); Archangel Gabriel from the Scene of the Annunciation (reverse). Wing of the altar retable from Snoza
Saint James the Great
Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1571) (design for a mosaic in the Victoria and Albert Museum)