Adoration of the Trinity

The Landauer Altar ( also Trinity altar or All Saints' Day ) is one of the few altarpieces Albrecht Dürer.

History

Founder and principal was the Nuremberg merchant Matthew Landauer, who gave the image for the new chapel of the twelve brothers house, a retirement home for twelve innocent in need artisans in order. According to House rules, the inmates had to return for free food, lodging and clothing daily pray for the soul of the founder, otherwise threatened meals withdrawal. Among the first residents of the twelve brothers house also Landauer was itself

A drawing from 1508 shows that the portal-like framework was already part of the concept. The Schnitzrahmen was probably matched in its color exactly on the picture and was executed by Veit Stoss. Dürer designed the frame in the Renaissance style with fully plastic pillars supporting an arch pediment.

Dürer Portrait, Self-portrait, religious figures, landscape and plant representation incorporated in this work and taken suggestions from the Italian altar art.

The Landauer chapel is the earliest example of Dürer's work as artist features. For pictorial program of the chapel belonged to the Allerheiligenaltar be carved frames and stained-glass windows.

The original painting was sold in 1585 to Emperor Rudolf II and is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Designed by Dürer framework remained in Nuremberg and is located in the Germanic National Museum. In Vienna, a modern copy of the frame is shown.

Description

Painting

Thematically, the Landauer altar refers to the Holy Trinity, was consecrated the chapel. The painting is usually a vision of the God of State (Latin civitas Dei ) after the final judgment, viewed in accordance with the description of the church father Augustine.

Dürer had the task of consecrated for the All Saints Chapel to paint an altarpiece that was to show the worship of the Holy Trinity through the communion of saints with all Christians ( All Saints ). The Trinity is located in the center of the picture: God the Father is enthroned on the clouds and holding the crucified Christ. In hovers the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.

The Trinity itself is surrounded by groups of worshipers: The bottom row shows the left half with a spiritual Pope, Cardinal, Monk and Nun, and to the right with a secular emperor, king, prince, knight, citizen and farmer. The founder Matthew Landauer is in fur-trimmed coat between cardinal and mendicant. The knight in golden armor is his son William Haller.

Himself Has Dürer shown bottom right with an antique-style table. On the table is the Latin inscription: . Albertus Durer Noricus faciebat anno a Virginis partu 1511 ( German: Albrecht Dürer from Nuremberg created it in 1511 after the virgin birth. ).

Johann Konrad Eberlein states in his Dürer Biography for testing:

The appearance of the artist in the form of an earthly witnesses of events contributes to the objectification of the complex visionary content of the works.

Framework

The frame corresponds to the Italian model of Ädikularahmens ( = shrine temple ) which originated in the Renaissance as a re-enactment of ancient architecture. Topic of the frame is the Last Judgment. In the tympanum Christ is to see the Judge. He is joined by Mary and John as an advocate of humanity. On both sides blow little angels with trumpets Judgment Day.

In the frieze of the train of the redeemed is shown on the left, led by angels to the sun, right on the other hand the damned devils are driven to hell. In the middle of a battle for the soul of the fallen Risen is shown.

At the lower part of the frame an inscription is attached, which is accompanied by two coat of arms of Landauer. Albrecht Dürer had sent the draft to run from late Gothic sculptor Veit Stoss. ( Conzen, picture frames. Nouveau - use material, Munich 1983)