Heller-Altar

Albrecht Dürer, Matthias Grünewald, Jobst Harrich

The Heller-Altar was painted by Albrecht Dürer and Matthias Grünewald triptych. The altar was built 1507-1511 on behalf of the Patrician Jacob Heller for the Dominican church in Frankfurt am Main. The main part is obtained only as a copy of the 17th century by Jobst Harrich. The altarpieces are distributed today in several museums in Frankfurt and Karlsruhe.

Formation and object history

Since the end of the 15th and the first quarter of the 16th century Dominican monastery was in Frankfurt an extensive, contemporary Neuaustattung of the best artists of this period, including Hans Holbein the Elder, the Master of Frankfurt and Hans Baldung Grien. For the southern nave of the church of Frankfurt alderman and merchant Jacob Heller was for himself and his wife Catherine in 1507 a triptych commissioned.

With the middle panel, inner wing and the left and right first outer wing he entrusted the work in Nuremberg Albrecht Dürer. Only four panels for the left and right second outer wing left Heller - although this should be carried out in the particularly difficult grisaille technique as well as the former - the then probably Companies based in Aschaffenburg Matthias Grünewald.

Your share of the work sent Dürer's workshop in August 1509 to Frankfurt as a placed as decorative figure self-portrait of the Master passed on with inscription plaque. Work Matthias Grünewald can, however, postings about the period 1509-11, so that the altar was composed in 1511 at its destination at the latest.

As 1614 Duke Maximilian of Bavaria, the middle panel Dürer acquired for his art collection, was made ​​a copy for the remaining in Frankfurt altar of the Nuremberg painter Jobst Harrich no later than 1617. This turned out to be a extraordinary stroke of luck out because the original was about a century later lost in a fire in the Munich Residenz 1729.

In the course of secularization, the art treasures of the Dominican convent were scattered all over the world, including the Heller altarpiece. Meanwhile, the late medieval community work is, however, again mostly in Frankfurt. The Historical Museum shows a reconstruction of the inside with the copy Jobst Harr ego in the center and the even respectively from Dürer's hand workshop derived wing insides. Three out of four panels of the outer wing are located here as well, though not in the current permanent exhibition. A fourth panel, the upper part of the left first outer wing with Adoration of the Kings, is considered lost.

The commonly regarded as a far share of high-quality Grünewald at the altar - four saints - is, however, half as a permanent loan from the Historical Museum in the Städel, namely the male saints, the other half with the female saints in the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe.

Motif

Inside (holiday party) of Dürer

On the central panel of the Assumption and Coronation of the Virgin can be seen. The coronation is performed by Jesus and God. About the Crown of Maria, a pigeon is seen that symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The scene is observed by the apostles. Almost in the center of the image, but in the background is the painter Albrecht Dürer, slightly ajar on a blackboard on which is his signature and the year of completion.

On the left side is seen in the upper part of the martyrdom of James. In the lower part you can see the founder Jacob Heller with his coat of arms. On the right wing the martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria is to be seen. On the lower part you can see the wife of the founder: Catherine of melem with their coat of arms. The names of the saints and the founders of the couple relate to each other.

Known as the Praying Hands Drawing can be found in the standing at the right edge of the central panel of the Apostles ( red coat) again. For other Acts and parts of the body, such as the soles of the front right Apostle, sketches are known.

Jacob Heller established in 1519 an extensive Testament, which allows significant insights about his motives for the foundation. In addition, his correspondence with Albrecht Dürer is obtained, so that the formation of the altarpiece can tap into in detail.

Left wing down, the founder Jacob Heller with Coat of Arms

Right wing above, Martyrdom of St. Catherine

Right wing down, the foundress Catherine Heller, born of melem with Coat of Arms

Outside (Weekdays side) of Grünewald and Dürer

On the outside of Grünewald and Dürer, which consists of eight panels, more saints scenes are shown in grisaille. From Grünewald originate four images, two of which - the Cyriacus and Lawrence - the Städel and two - possibly Lucia Elizabeth of Thuringia and a martyr, - located in the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe.

Pictures of Green Forest

St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, Mathias Grünewald

St. Lawrence, Mathias Grünewald

St. Lucia (?), Mathias Grünewald

Pictures of Dürer

In the pictures of Dürer two saints are pictured: Peter and Paul, Christopher Thomas Aquinas and two Holy Kings.