Der hl. Martin Rückseite: Hl. Stephanus(?)

Von Kulmbach employs a restrained palette and precise linear modeling typical of early 16th‑century German painting. The armor’s reflective surfaces and the textured ground are rendered with careful attention to light, while the halo and draped cloak provide a subtle contrast between the divine and the earthly.

Hans von Kulmbach, a native of Kulmbach in Franconia, was active from the late 15th century until at least 1522. Besides this panel, his oeuvre includes work on the Kraków St John’s Altar. The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, where it remains on display.

The depiction aligns with the devotional imagery of the period, where saints were often shown in contemporary martial attire to emphasize their spiritual authority. Martin of Tours, a 4th‑century bishop famed for his charitable acts, was a popular subject in German art, reinforcing local religious identity during the Reformation era.