Münnerstädter altar, Gothic altar in Münnerstadt, Germany.
The Münnerstadt altar is a late Gothic wooden retable located in St. Maria Magdalena Church, rising to a considerable height with intricately carved religious figures and biblical scenes. The structure displays multiple levels of carved details showing people and stories from Christian tradition arranged in distinct sections.
This carving was created around 1490 by a prominent sculptor of the period, representing an important work from the late Gothic era. A major restoration in the early 1980s preserved original elements while carefully adding reproductions of pieces that had been moved to museums.
The central panel depicts Mary Magdalene being lifted by six angels, a scene that holds deep meaning for worshippers. The lower section shows the four Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in positions of honor around this sacred moment.
The altar is located inside the parish church and can be viewed during regular church hours. It is worth taking time to examine the carving from different distances, as details appear differently depending on where you stand in front of it.
The carving was finished with a special pigmented glue technique instead of traditional paint, with only certain details like stars and mouths receiving added color. This unusual approach gives the work a distinctive appearance quite different from conventionally painted wooden sculptures.
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