1.15: The Isenheim Altarpiece
- Page ID
- 359663
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Artist: Matthias Grünewald
Medium: Oil on Wood
Art Historical Time Period: Northern Renaissance (1512–1516)
The Isenheim Altarpiece (1512–1516) by Matthias Grünewald was created for a hospital in Isenheim, Germany, that treated people suffering from skin diseases such as ergotism. The vivid and emotionally charged images were designed to comfort the sick by showing that Jesus understood their pain, and that healing and hope were possible through faith. The central panel shows the crucifixion in graphic detail, with Christ’s body twisted and covered in wounds.
The altarpiece includes multiple panels that could be opened or closed depending on the liturgical season. These panels show not only the suffering of Christ but also his resurrection, ascension, and scenes of saints who interceded for the sick. It’s a dramatic and powerful work that served both a religious and healing function.
Vocabulary
- Altarpiece – A large artwork placed behind an altar in a church.
- Liturgical – Relating to public worship and the church calendar.
- Ergotism – A disease caused by eating moldy grain, known in the Middle Ages as “St. Anthony’s Fire.”
Student Authors
- Sofia Garcia ’26 and Luis Fernandez ’23
References and Image Attribution
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