Winged Altarpiece
1500
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1500
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This carved wood altarpiece was made to stand behind the altar in a church. Made by Rupert Potsch around 1500-1510, it’s a fine example of Renaissance craftsmanship. The job wasn’t done all at once; a 1509 note says some parts still needed fixes and a coat of arms. The altarpiece came from a church rebuilt in the late 1400s. It fits the choir perfectly, with a predella about two meters wide. Despite its size, no one wrote down what the carvings looked like. If you like carved altarpieces, check out work by Tilman Riemenschneider.
