Artwork
The Death of Saint Clare
The Death of Saint Clare is a tempera painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Master of Heiligenkreuz Abbey. It dates from 1405 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:on left-hand page of book held by nun at lower right: Dii labia
About this work
Technique & Style
The panel's relatively modest dimensions suggest it functioned as a private devotional image or formed part of a larger altarpiece ensemble.
The Death of Saint Clare is executed in oil on panel, measuring 66.4 by 53.5 cm. This early fifteenth-century Austrian work exemplifies the International Gothic style characteristic of the Master of Heiligenkreuz, a painter active around 1400 whose oeuvre reflects the refined courtly aesthetic of late medieval Central Europe.
The panel's relatively modest dimensions suggest it functioned as a private devotional image or formed part of a larger altarpiece ensemble. The artist's handling demonstrates the meticulous detail and luminous color effects made possible by the oil medium, which was gaining currency in Northern European painting during this period. The smooth, enamel-like surface and precise draftsmanship are consistent with the refined technical standards of Bohemian and Austrian panel painting at the turn of the fifteenth century.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1400 by the Master of Heiligenkreuz, this panel painting likely originated in the Convent of the Poor Clares in Eger, either in Bohemia or Hungary. The work's modern ownership chain begins with Karl Schäfer of Munich, from whom Walter Schnackenberg acquired it between 1921 and 1922. In 1943, Carl Langbehn purchased a one-third share from Schnackenberg, which subsequently passed by inheritance to his mother, Marta Langbehn.
The painting was held jointly by Seiler & Co., Schnackenberg, and Alfred Müller before being sold in 1951 to M. Knoedler & Co. in New York, acting for Pinakos, Inc. The Samuel H. Kress Foundation purchased the work later that year and transferred it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1952 via exchange.
Overview
The oil painting "The Death of Saint Clare" was created around 1405 by the artist known as the Master of Heiligenkreuz. This religious work depicts the final moments of Saint Clare of Assisi, a significant figure in Christian history. The composition centers on the saint's passing, surrounded by her grieving companions, capturing a moment of profound spiritual importance and human emotion within a sacred context.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Saint Clare lying on a bed, encircled by a group of women, presumably her fellow nuns, who are shown in mourning. Dressed in long, flowing robes, some figures hold devotional items such as books or candles, underscoring the spiritual nature of the scene. A red curtain behind the bed provides a dramatic and solemn backdrop, emphasizing the gravity of the event and the reverence accorded to the saint's departure.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
The Master of Heiligenkreuz was an Austrian painter active at the beginning of the 15th century; a tentative lifespan of 1395 to 1430 has been put forth but this appears highly conjectural.
- Geburt Mariens
Birth of the Virgin
Birth of the Virgin and Presentation at the Temple
Saint Hippolyte cures the Leg of the Oxherd Peter
The Birth of Saint John the Baptist
Posthumous Miracles by Saint Vincent
Entombment
Death of the Virgin
Triptych of the Virgin and Child with Saints
Dormition of the Virgin
Virgin of the Angels
Birth of John the Baptist