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Saint Norbert restores peace

Author, school, workshop
Norbertine monastic sculptor (?)
Style
Late Mannerism
Date
1662–1665
Material and technique
Oak wood; shallow relief
Size
Height 145 x width 85 cm
Location
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Wroclaw, Poland
Description
The relief depicts a scene of St Norbert reconciling his enemies in the village of Moustier near Namor.

The composition is divided backstage into two main plans. In front, we see six men. St Norbert stands next to the Premonstratensian, shown frontally on the left, with a staff in his hand. He is shown from behind wearing a habit with his hat hanging down on his back. He turns his head to the right, where he seals the peace by placing his hand on the shoulder of a nobleman standing beside him, who shakes hands with his opponent. Both antagonists are wearing secular costumes, with feathered hats on their heads, and the bearded man visible between them has an eastern headdress.In the centre of the assembled figures, a cabinet reliquary stands on the ground. At the far right above the heads of the foreground figures can be seen the left profile of the face of a man wearing a hat.

In the background: a Renaissance dome chapel by the church walls (right), on the axis two houses and three stylised trees on the left.

Relief based on Th.Galle's engraving No.13 from the 'Vita S. Norberti' a book annotated and published by Ch. van der Sterre in Antwerp in 1622.