VEIT STOSS ALTAR IN KRAKOW

by Ala on in Poland

It is supposed that our great Slovak sculptor Master Paul of Levoča was a pupil of a great German sculptor Veit Stoss. Many facts about the lives of these two men, and especially about the life of Master Paul of Levoča, are shrouded in mystery.  The exact date of their birth is unknown. Veit Stoss was born sometime between 1447-1450. Master Paul of Levoča sometime between 1470-1480.

The two artists met in Krakow where Veit Stoss had a workshop with many pupils. Veit Stoss spent 20 years of his life in Krakow. He created the beautiful altar,  we can admire now, in 1477-1489. It is 13 m tall and 11 m wide and its structure is made of oak wood and the sculptures are carved out of lime wood. Within 12 years Veit Stoss managed to carve almost 200 figures.

This altar became a model for Master Paul of Levoča for his creation of the high altar of St. James Church in Levoča, Slovakia.  With its 18.62 m height it is the world´s tallest Gothic wooden altar. It is 6.27 cm wide. It was completed in 1517.

 

St. Mary´s  Basilica in Krakow, interiér – presbyterium with  St. Mary´s Altar  

Wings of the wing altars were open during holidays. In case of this particular altar, nowadays they are open and closed during different times of the day.  We can admire this Veit Stoss altarpiece while its wings are open.  Blue background of the altar shrine diffuses into six scenes on the wings, too, and even corresponds with the blue colour of the church presbytery. Heavenly blue background is combined with gold and this is what I take in as the first impression.

St. Mary´s Altar by Veit Stoss. Central and largest section of the altar is a wooden shrine with plastic decoration – wooden sculptures. In it the scenes of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary are depicted. Both to the right and to the left from it, on the open wings, we can see three scenes of the joy of the Mother of God. To the left from the top: Annunciaton, Nativity of Jesus, Adoration of the Magi. To the right from the top: Resurrection, Ascension of Jesus, Descent of the Holy Spirit 

Getting a closer look I realise how very colourful this altarpiece is, how many rich beautiful colours enhance the basic blue and gold.

The Dormition of the Mother of God. Our Lady is surrounded by the Twelve Apostles. Above this scene is the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Notice that the statues have different facial features and different facial expressions  
Realistic faces of the Apostles – they are looking like alive. It´s hard to believe that they are carved of lime wood. Veit Stoss was a real master of his craft, a great artist. As each of these Apostle figures is 2.90 m tall, he needed 500 years old trunks of linden trees for creating these statues
Unbelievable realistic details – we can see veins on legs of one of the Apostles
Nativity of Jesus – scene in the center of the left wing. For me this a piece of rainbow