Tree of Jesse
- 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 x 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
- One of the apostles
Late Gothic retable depicting scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus
Wit Stwosz (ca. 1448-1533)
Late Gothic
Altarpiece in the form of a pentaptych
Wood/sculpture, gilding, polychrome
St Mary's Basilica in Cracow
St Mary's altar (by Wit Stwosz) in the presbytery
Saint Thomas
Saint John the Evangelist
Saint Gregory and Saint Jerome
One of the prophets
Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine
Saint Mary and the supporting apostle Saint James the Elder
Mary from the scene of the Dormition of Our Lady
Tree of Jesse
In the predella of the altarpiece is the Jesse Tree. Such a solution is rare and shows that the author of the iconographic programme of the altarpiece was looking for unique and original solutions. In the middle of the predella, the sleeping patriarch Jesse is depicted, with a twisted trunk growing out of his viscera. Seated on the branches are representatives of the successive tribes of Israel, portrayed in dynamic poses, who are regarded as foreshadowing the earthly genealogy of Christ. This extraordinary image is a literal illustration of the words of the Book of Isaiah.
