Twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple
- 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
- Despite the complex formal treatments intended to create space (the floor running away into the depths, the openwork structure in the middle of the sanctuary), the composition of the quatrefoil is flat and the effect achieved unconvincing. The way the figures are arranged around Jesus verges on caricature. However, it is difficult to suppose that the twisted effect of the 'crouching' of the man in the central arcade was intentional. It cannot be ruled out that such shortcomings are the result of the participation of numerous helpers and disciples.
