Kefermarkt Altarpiece, Gothic triptych in Kefermarkt, Austria
The Kefermarkt Altarpiece is a limewood carved altar featuring three life-sized saint figures in its central panel, surrounded by detailed wooden ornamentation and smaller carved scenes. The structure rises about 13.5 meters high and spans 6.3 meters wide within the pilgrimage church.
Knight Christoph von Zelking commissioned this altar between 1490 and 1497, during the late Gothic period when carved wood sculpture was flourishing in Austrian art. The piece emerged from a tradition of religious craftsmanship that shaped this region's artistic heritage.
The wings display scenes from Mary's life and are part of a pilgrimage tradition that has drawn visitors to this small church for centuries. You see religious imagery that reflects the daily faith and beliefs of people from that era.
The altar stands in the pilgrimage church and is open throughout the year during regular church hours. Keep in mind that the confined space inside the building may limit the angles from which you can view the entire piece.
The name of the main sculptor remains unknown and appears in history only as the Master of Kefermarkt. Despite this anonymity, the work displays such skillful carving that art historians rank this artist among the most important craftspeople of the late Gothic period.
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