Peter Kaltenofer, Jörg Breu d. Ä., Johann Hertzog
Augsburg, 1457
Softwood, painted
Inv.-Nr. MA 856 - MA 860
From the old weavers' guild-hall in Augsburg, acquired in 1864
Gallery 9
The ceiling and the wall panels come from the former guildhall of the weavers, a guild important in the civic history of Augsburg. The panels bear one of the most sweeping Late Gothic secular pictorial cycles north of the Alps. The varied iconographic programme illustrates the historical and religious context of the Augsburg weavers who were freemen of the Holy Roman Empire ruled over by dynasties of German kings. In the barrel vaulting verses explain Old Testament scenes, beginning with the Fall of Man, and also elucidate events from the life of Alexander the Great. On the north wall are the Princes Elector of the German states of the Holy Roman Empire and six Good Heroes, above them scenes from the Creation. On the east wall there are representations of Jewish prophets, pagan philosophers and other heroes.