Artwork
The Raising of the Cross [center, left, and right panels]
![The Raising of the Cross [center, left, and right panels], by Master of the Starck Triptych, oil, 1485](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/master-of-the-starck-triptych--the-raising-of-the-cross-center-left-and-right-panels--5f0053e23b45aff7-w1024.webp)
The Raising of the Cross [center, left, and right panels] is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Starck Triptych. It dates from 1485 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper right, center panel, on sleeve of man in striped costume: OHAIR[W?]
About this work
History & Provenance
The triptych was created in 1485 by the Master of the Starck Triptych, likely commissioned for devotional use within a private context in Nuremberg.
The triptych was created in 1485 by the Master of the Starck Triptych, likely commissioned for devotional use within a private context in Nuremberg. The work remained in Nuremberg under the ownership of the Starck family until the 16th century.
By the early 19th century, the triptych was held by John Talbot, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, at Alton Towers in England. In 1839, Talbot donated it to St. Mary’s College, Oscott, where it remained until being sold through Julius H. Weitzner in London to French & Co. in New York by 1976. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., acquired the triptych in 1997.
The three panels of The Raising of the Cross are held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where the work was purchased in 1997. Prior to its acquisition by the museum, the triptych entered the collection of St. Mary's College, Oscott, in England, as a gift in 1839 from John, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, who had received it from the Starck family of Nuremberg. By 1976, the painting had passed through the London dealer Julius H. Weitzner and the New York firm French & Co. before reaching its current institution.
Legacy
The Raising of the Cross [center, left, and right panels] is housed in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it is examined as a key example of early Northern Renaissance religious painting by the Master of the Starck Triptych. Its provenance, recorded from the Starck family, the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, a 19th‑century sale to French & Co., and purchase by the NGA in 1997, illustrates its enduring scholarly and collector interest.
Overview
The Raising of the Cross, a triptych painted in oil on panel around 1485, is attributed to the artist known as the Master of the Starck Triptych. This religious work vividly portrays the moment Christ is elevated onto the cross, a central event in Christian narrative. The composition is notable for its intricate details and dramatic atmosphere, characteristic of late medieval or early Renaissance painting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a tumultuous scene centered on the elevation of Christ onto the cross. Surrounding him, figures in vibrant red and blue garments exert themselves, pushing and pulling to raise the heavy timber. Other onlookers observe the event, some kneeling in contemplation, while the foreground is strewn with implements and skeletal remains. A dog rests nearby, adding a mundane detail to the solemn narrative.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a highly detailed approach, meticulously rendering individual faces and the textures of clothing, ensuring each figure possesses distinct characteristics. The composition is dense and dynamic, conveying the intensity of the moment. A dramatic sky, filled with dark clouds, looms over the distant cityscape, enhancing the somber mood. This attention to narrative detail and atmospheric effect is a hallmark of the period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
![Saint Catherine [right wing exterior], by Master of the Starck Triptych](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/master-of-the-starck-triptych--saint-catherine-right-wing-exterior--33943bd5985ff592-w320.webp)
![Saint Barbara [left wing exterior], by Master of the Starck Triptych](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/master-of-the-starck-triptych--saint-barbara-left-wing-exterior--dc6b24dbebc95d32-w320.webp)
