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Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings)

Master of the Krainburg Altar , 1500

Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings), by Master of the Krainburg Altar, unspecified, 1500
Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings), by Master of the Krainburg Altar, unspecified, 1500

Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings) is an unspecified painting by the Gothic painting artist Master of the Krainburg Altar. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.
2022.86
Credit line
John L. Severance Fund

About this work

This painter took the woodcut map and turned it into a holy scene, like using a postcard for a sacred backdrop.

You see a three-panel altarpiece: the center shows Christ’s body being mourned, the left wing has Saint Barbara, the right wing Saint Catherine, and the back wings show the angel telling Mary she’ll have a baby.

The artist copied Jerusalem from a 1486 travel book that was a huge hit, people loved its detailed city views. This painter took the woodcut map and turned it into a holy scene, like using a postcard for a sacred backdrop.

To see more works that borrow real places for religious stories, look up subject: austria.

Overview

This triptych altarpiece consists of three panels: a central Lamentation scene flanked by Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine on the wings, with an Annunciation scene on the reverse.

Subject & Meaning

The central panel depicts the mourning of Christ's body, set against a detailed representation of Jerusalem, while the wings feature two revered female saints and a biblical annunciation scene.

Technique & Style

The artist adapted a woodcut map of Jerusalem from Bernhard von Breydenbach's 1486 travelogue, Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to create the backdrop for the Lamentation scene, demonstrating the influence of printed materials on painting.

Context

The painting reflects a broader artistic trend of incorporating real-world geographical details into religious narratives, a practice evident in other works from the region.

Artist & collection

MORE BY MASTER OF THE KRAINBURG ALTAR

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings)?

Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings) was painted by Master of the Krainburg Altar in 1500.

Where can I see Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings)?

Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings)?

Triptych with The Lamentation of Christ (center), St. Barbara (left wing), St. Catherine of Alexandria (right wing), The Annunciation (reverse wings) is associated with Gothic painting.