Master of the Tucher Altarpiece
Encyclopedia
The Master of the Tucher Altarpiece (fl c. 1430-1450) was a German
painter active in Nuremberg
. His name is derived from a painting which has been in that city's Frauenkirche
since the early 19th century; this has been known as the Tucher Altarpiece at least since 1615, in which year it was moved from its initial location (the Augustinians' church in Nuremberg), to another church in the
same city. This move, and the accompanying restoration of the painting, was done under the auspices of the Tucher family, from whom it received its name.
The Master's style is of a piece with that of his contemporaries such as Konrad Witz
and Hans Multscher
, all of whose realism is based on sculptural forms. Unlike Witz, he chose to depict only solid forms, especially those of the human figure, doing away with any suggestion of background. This can be seen in the central panel of his eponymous altarpiece, in which a painting of the Crucifixion
is flanked by scenes from the Annunciation
and Resurrection
. The figures stand against a tooled gold
ground, purely decorative and with no perspective
depth. Elaborate tracery
, a baldacchino, projects over them as if to suggest that they are actually statues. A still-life appears on the exterior, part of the setting for the Vision of Saint Augustine. This resembles similar still-lifes painted in the niches above a group of prophet
s by Barthélemy d'Eyck
in a painting of 1445; even so, there is no indication that d'Eyck and the Master were the same artist.
Indeed, too little information exists to draw a more compelling portrait of the Master, or to suggest that he had any sort of career outside of Nuremberg. Eight paintings in total, including some polyptych
s, have been attributed to him or to his studio
. Among these are the so-called Haller Altarpiece, in the St. Sebaldus Church
in Nuremberg, and the Ehenheim Epitaph in that city's St. Lorenz Church
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
painter active in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. His name is derived from a painting which has been in that city's Frauenkirche
Nuremberg Frauenkirche
The Frauenkirche is a church in Nuremberg, Germany. It stands on the eastern side of the main market. An example of brick Gothic architecture, it was built on the initiative of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor between 1352 and 1362. The church contains many sculptures, some of them heavily restored...
since the early 19th century; this has been known as the Tucher Altarpiece at least since 1615, in which year it was moved from its initial location (the Augustinians' church in Nuremberg), to another church in the
same city. This move, and the accompanying restoration of the painting, was done under the auspices of the Tucher family, from whom it received its name.
The Master's style is of a piece with that of his contemporaries such as Konrad Witz
Konrad Witz
Konrad Witz - c. Winter 1445/Spring 1446 in Basel, Switzerland) was a German painter, active mainly in Basel, Switzerland.Witz is most famous for painting three altarpieces, all of which survive only partially...
and Hans Multscher
Hans Multscher
Hans Multscher was a German sculptor and painter.Multscher was born in Reichenhofen .He made himself with new artistic styles from northern France and the Netherlands, and became a free citizen of the city of Ulm in 1427. There, he married Adelheid Kitzin the same year...
, all of whose realism is based on sculptural forms. Unlike Witz, he chose to depict only solid forms, especially those of the human figure, doing away with any suggestion of background. This can be seen in the central panel of his eponymous altarpiece, in which a painting of the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
is flanked by scenes from the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
and Resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
. The figures stand against a tooled gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
ground, purely decorative and with no perspective
Perspective (visual)
Perspective, in context of vision and visual perception, is the way in which objects appear to the eye based on their spatial attributes; or their dimensions and the position of the eye relative to the objects...
depth. Elaborate tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
, a baldacchino, projects over them as if to suggest that they are actually statues. A still-life appears on the exterior, part of the setting for the Vision of Saint Augustine. This resembles similar still-lifes painted in the niches above a group of prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s by Barthélemy d'Eyck
Barthélemy d'Eyck
Barthélemy d'Eyck, van Eyck or d' Eyck , was an Early Netherlandish artist who worked in France and probably in Burgundy as a painter and manuscript illuminator...
in a painting of 1445; even so, there is no indication that d'Eyck and the Master were the same artist.
Indeed, too little information exists to draw a more compelling portrait of the Master, or to suggest that he had any sort of career outside of Nuremberg. Eight paintings in total, including some polyptych
Polyptych
A polyptych generally refers to a painting which is divided into sections, or panels. The terminology that follows is in relevance to the number of panels integrated into a particular piece of work: "diptych" describes a two-part work of art; "triptych" describes a three-part work; "tetraptych"...
s, have been attributed to him or to his studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
. Among these are the so-called Haller Altarpiece, in the St. Sebaldus Church
St. Sebaldus Church
St. Sebaldus Church is a medieval church in Nuremberg, Germany. Along with Frauenkirche and St. Lorenz, it is one of the most important churches of the city, and also one of the oldest. It is located at the Albrecht-Dürer-Platz, in front of the old city hall...
in Nuremberg, and the Ehenheim Epitaph in that city's St. Lorenz Church
St. Lorenz (Nürnberg)
St. Lorenz is a medieval church of the former free imperial city of Nuremberg, southern Germany. It is dedicated to Saint Lawrence. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and later rebuilt. It is one of the most prominent churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria.The choir...
.