AN IMPORTANT LATE GOTHIC GROUP OF SIX APOSTLES AND THREE FEMALE SAINTS

Description:

Thuringia or Saxony, 1500 circa
H. 39/42 cm mit Sockeln 42/45 cm
Standing figures, carved on frontal view, the figure of Saint James in side view. The attributes and hands of most of the figures are missing. Saint Barbara can be identified by the chalice, the other two probably Saint Catherine and Saint Margaretha. Apostle James carries the pilgrim shell on his hat, the other apostles are probably Peter, Paul and Bartholomeus. All figures are worked out detailly, the robes are provided with rich folds. Linden, carved with deeply hollowed backs. Base plates later. Age damage, missing parts, rests of later polychromy and restorations. A few figures with inventory numbers on reverse.
Property of a thuringian noble family
The virtuoso design and carving of the figures with the individually and richly elaborated robes and the characteristic depiction of the heads and faces suggests a gifted woodcarver of his time. The Thuringian and Saxon workshops at the end of the 15th century were strongly influenced by Franconian works from the period, masters such as the woodcarver Peter Breuer (1472-1541) from Zwickau for expl. was a student of Riemenschneider. Typical of the Central German area, however, are the small-figure works that are often found in the wings of Thuringian and Saxon altars.
Lit. Fritz Kämpfer, Mittelalterliche Bildwerke aus Thüringer Dorfkirchen, Dresden 1955. Silke Tofahrn, Gotische Skulptur in Sachsen, Schloßbergmuseum Chemnitz, Abb. 49, 52.