Nosseni-Altar, Renaissance altar in Loschwitz Church, Dresden, Germany.
The Nosseni Altar is a Renaissance shrine in Dresden's Loschwitz Church that extends 11 meters tall and is made from marble, alabaster, and sandstone. The work features four Corinthian columns supporting a crucifixion scene and divides the structure into three levels.
The work was created in 1606 by Swiss sculptor Giovanni Maria Nosseni and was meant to inspire generations of worshippers. After destruction from the 1945 Dresden bombing, it was painstakingly reassembled from 350 pieces starting in 1998.
The inscriptions in gold letters on black marble show the artistic traditions of Electoral Saxony around 1600 and speak to religious themes that mattered to believers of that time. You can still see this connection between craftsmanship and spiritual message today when you look at the fine details.
The altar has been in Loschwitz Church since 2002 and can be viewed during regular church hours or scheduled tours. It helps to check visiting times in advance and explore the church interior thoroughly to see all three levels of the work completely.
The statues of John and Mary in the central section stand about 85 centimeters tall and display masterful stone carving. The upper tier depicts Christ's Lamentation, forming an emotional focal point of the entire work.
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