Family Altar

Description:

Upper Swabia (?), c. 1500
121 x 91 cm
Erratum: Lot 685: Die Beschreibung um 1500 bezieht sich auf die Altarflügel, das Gehäuse und seine Ausmalung stammt aus späterer Zeit unter Verwendung versch. älterer Teile, teils 18. Jhdt./The description c. 1500 refers to the altar wings, the central shrine with ist polychromy of later date and adapted enclosing 18th ct. details
In closed state on the two wings the Annunciation to the Virgin, in open state on the side panels St. Agatha with a burning candle and St. Dorothea with a small basket of flowers. The centre shrine is decorated with a wimperg. Oil/wood, Roman dated 1508 on the front, Arabic dated 1508 on the inside.
Acquired in 1985 at Nagel Auktionen. C. 1500, the two female saints belonged to the extended circle of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, who were often called upon to help with domestic problems. St. Agatha was regarded as the patron against conflagration, St. Dorothea as a helper in all kinds of distress.