Three Maries at the Tomb of Jesus
- 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
- Another testimony to the Resurrection comes from three women named Mary. Having purchased fragrances, which were not available earlier because of the Sabbath, they went to the tomb of the Master to perform the Jewish rite of anointing the dead. At the tomb, they found a displaced boulder and an angel asking why they were seeking the living among the dead. In the Middle Ages, so-called liturgical dramatisations became very popular. These were enactments of a paratheatrical nature woven into the liturgy, especially during the celebration of the Paschal Triduum. On Easter Sunday, during the Resurrection, clerics dressed as women would go to a pre-designated place, which in the church space symbolised the Saviour's tomb. There they would meet an angel who would address them with words of Scripture. Stwosz certainly participated in such practices on many occasions.
