MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - PA067.jpg

Category Painting
Origin: artist/workshop Franconian School
Date 16C/1
Reference No
Size right wing 241x107.5 (centre 235x235)
Provenance Cistercian Abbey of Lehnin
Present Location Brandenburg, Cathedral
Bibliography Arndt 1992, 27-32

Bergau 1885, 204
Illustration From photo - Dommuseum, Brandenburg
Other illustrations Arndt 1992, 31

Country Germany
Description:
The altarpiece from the Cistercian abbey of Lehnin dated 1518 during the abbacy of the last abbot of Lehnin who died in 1542 following the inscription: 'Anno d(omi)ni: 1518. Sub. d. valentino Abbate'. The centre consists of the carved figures of the Virgin standing on the moon in accordance with the Apocalypse and flanked by St Peter with the keys on the left and St Paul with the martyr's sword. It is from the workshop of the Podelwitzer Master from Leipzig, while the two painted wings represent the work of the Franconian School. On the left is St Mary Magdalen and St Benedict with crozier and wearing a black cowl, while the right wing has St Bernard with crozier and book in a white cowl together with St Ursula with martyr's crown and two arrows. Below the figure of Bernard is the inscription: 'S.Bernhardus Abbas'. The reverse of the wings has the four Fathers of the Church, St Gregory and St Ambrose on the left, and St Jerome and St Augustine on the right. These four saints would have been visible for most of the time as the altarpiece would normally have been kept closed. After the Reformation the altarpiece was taken to the chapel of the ducal palace in Berlin where it is known to have been by 1547, but after a few years it was moved again, this time to the Cathedral in Brandenburg where it now adorns the High Altar.