Matthias Grünewald, born in 1480, was one of the greatest painters in Germany who was known for his religious works. Grünewald consistently achieved expressiveness through his use of intense colours and agitated lines. While he is a Renaissance painter, he ignored Renaissance classicism.
His most famous and largest work, which was even considered as his masterpiece, was The wings of the altarpiece of the Antonite monastery at Isenheim. The piece was commissioned by the Isenheim hospital, which was run by monks who were caretakers of sick and dying peasants who were suffering from ergotism. The altarpiece could be opened to reveal three scenes.
Grünewald was able to capture sickly colours along with the distorted figure of Christ, juxtaposing against the expressive gestures of the rest of the altarpiece’s figures. This piece effectively depicts raw emotion and suffering.
The altarpiece was a testament to human suffering as can be seen in the images above; Grünewald used his imagination to bring St. Anthony’s temptations to life in the form of hybrid demons. It is without a doubt that the Isenheim Altarpiece is a masterpiece in both art and storytelling, and is reflective of the hospital itself and the turmoil of sickness.
Works Cited
“Matthias Grünewald.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matthias-Grunewald. Accessed 30 Sep. 2021.
“Biography of El Greco.” El Greco Biography | Life, Paintings, Influence on Art, https://www.el-greco-foundation.org/biography.html. Accessed 30 Sep. 2021.
Angela,
Excellent post on an artist I have greatly admired since I was in art college! Your information on his most famous work, the Isenheim Altarpiece, is informed and concise. Also like the the note about “ergotism” in relation to the work which was a poison that effected peasants through the ingestion of infected grain. Well done!
Jeff