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Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece

Central panel of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece (Alte Pinakothek, Munich)

The Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece (sometimes called the Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altar[1]) was an Early Netherlandish painter active in Germany, mostly Cologne, between 1475[1]/1480 and 1510.[2] Despite his anonymity, he is one of the most recognizable artists of the early Renaissance period in German art.[3]

It has been said that the Master is the last "Gothic" painter to be active in Cologne. Approximately twenty-five paintings have been attributed to him[1] on the basis of his highly individual style, which does not seem to bear any affinity to that of any other school then active locally.[2] Despite the fact that he seems to have been the leading painter of his time in Cologne, no evidence of any followers, or of a school in the usual sense, may be found.[1]

Baptism of Christ, National Gallery of Art

A number of influences, mainly Netherlandish, have been traced in the Master's paintings. These include Dirck Bouts and Rogier van der Weyden,[4][5] whose influence may be seen in the Munich Madonna and Child with Saint Anne. Stylistically, the Master's paintings are characterized by their use of bright, enamel-like colors[5] and an affinity to the International Gothic style of painting.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d NGA
  2. ^ a b Getty
  3. ^ The modern monograph is Rainer Budde and Roland Krischel, eds. Genie ohne Namen. Der Meister des Bartholomäus-Altars (2001), based on an exhibition at the Wallraf-Richartz Museum.
  4. ^ WGA
  5. ^ a b Cartage Archived 2007-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wiki was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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