Nuremberg, ca 1477
Limewood with the original polychrome painting and gilding
302,0 x 287,0 x 74,5 cm
Inv.-Nr. MA 1961.1-9
From St Andrew's in Weißenburg, Central Franconia, acquired in 1857
Gallery 12
A number of the large, particularly massive, block-like figures of the Virgin made in Nuremberg and Central Franconia in about 1450/60 are still extant. The figures from Weißenburg are, aesthetically speaking, superior to the rest. The four decoratively painted wings of the altar could enclose the figure entirely. Such 'little saints' houses', of which several have been preserved in Franconia and particularly in Weißenburg, represent an early form of the altar with hinged wings otherwise primarily known from Scandinavian exemplars.