Artwork

Flügel eines Kreuzaltares, Außenseite: Die hll. Katharina und Barbara

Flügel eines Kreuzaltares, Außenseite: Die hll. Katharina und Barbara is an unspecified painting by Thoman Burgkmair. It dates from 1493 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Flügel eines Kreuzaltares, Außenseite: Die hll.

About this work

Overview

Flügel eines Kreuzaltares, Außenseite: Die hll. Katharina und Barbara is a c. 1493 religious painting by Thoman Burgkmair, featuring Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Barbara, housed at the Alte Pinakothek.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays two revered female saints, Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Barbara, standing together.

The painting portrays two revered female saints, Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Barbara, standing together. Catherine, associated with wisdom and scholarship, is depicted with a staff, symbolizing her martyrdom. Barbara, often linked with protection and virtue, holds a book, alluding to her learned nature and piety. Their calm demeanors and regal attire reflect their saintly status and importance in Christian iconography.

Technique & Style

Against a dark, ornate background with a carved, three-dimensional appearance, the saints are rendered in detailed, expressive attire. The rich textures and patterns of their robes, alongside the subtle, serene facial expressions, exemplify Burgkmair's attention to detail and his ability to convey depth and dimensionality.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1493 by Thoman Burgkmair, this panel was originally part of a cross altar (Kreuzaltar). It is now part of the collection at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, Germany.

Context

Saints Catherine and Barbara were frequently depicted together in medieval and early Renaissance art due to their shared themes of martyrdom, learning, and feminine virtue, appealing to the devotional practices and values of the time.