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Presentation of the Virgin Mary

Subject
Late Gothic retable depicting scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus
Author, school, workshop
Wit Stwosz (ca. 1448-1533)
Contributor
-
Style
Late Gothic
Date
1477-1489
Type
Altarpiece in the form of a pentaptych
Material and technique
Wood/carving, gilding, polychrome
Size
2,5 × 2,3 m
Signatures and inscriptions
-
Identity number
-
Department
-
Links/analogies
-
Owner
Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow
Copyright
Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow
Location
Saint Mary's altar (by Wit Stwosz) in the presbytery
Description
This quatrefoil, like the next one with the scene of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, attracts attention with its original layout. Only here did Stwosz divide the composition into two parts thus breaking up its compactness. It has been suggested that these may be the oldest fragments of the settee, prepared by the master earlier as a sample of his skill, a model intended for approval by the founders. There is no evidence for this, but the panels testify that the work on the altarpiece was a complex process. The master kept changing concepts, his talent matured and old ideas were superseded by new ones.