Who painted Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet?

Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet was painted by Master of the Housebook.

Where can I see Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet?

Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet?

Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet

Master of the Housebook

Passion Retable: The washing of the apostles feet is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Housebook. It is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1490, the tempera panel known as the Passion Retable: The Washing of the Apostles’ Feet is attributed to the enigmatic Master of the Housebook. It is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and presents a compact interior scene that focuses on a ritual act drawn from the New Testament.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a group of male figures gathered in a modestly furnished room. One figure kneels to cleanse the feet of a seated companion, echoing the biblical episode in which Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. The subdued atmosphere and attentive postures underscore themes of humility, service, and spiritual fellowship.

Technique & Style

Executed in egg tempera, the work displays the medium’s characteristic fine brushwork and luminous color layering.

Executed in egg tempera, the work displays the medium’s characteristic fine brushwork and luminous color layering. The artist employs a restrained palette of reds, greens, and whites for the robes, while the wooden floor and walls are rendered with careful modeling that suggests modest lighting from left‑hand windows. The overall effect is one of quiet realism typical of late‑15th‑century German panel painting.

History & Provenance

The panel has been documented in the Berlin Gemäldegalerie’s holdings since the early 20th century, though its precise acquisition trail remains sparse. Its attribution to the Master of the Housebook, a figure active in southern Germany during the late Gothic period, rests on stylistic parallels with other works bearing the artist’s distinctive decorative motifs.