Matthias Grünewald

1470 (age 58)

Wurzburg, Germany

As a young man he took up residence at Seligenstadt, and by 1503 he was at work on the Lindenhart Altar. From 1505-1508 he was engaged in painting the Mocking of Christ and the Basle Crucifixion. In 1511 he became court artist of Uriel von Gemmingen, Archbishop of Mainz, and he also worked for the next archbishop, Albert of Brandenburg. From 1512 to 1514 or 1515 he worked on the Isenheim altarpiece, apparently in partnership with another Mathis, variously surnamed Nithart, Neithart, von Würzburg (after his place of birth), or Gothardt. Grünewald seems to have left Isenheim in a hurry, returning to Frankfurt, and his subsequent poverty suggests he was not fully paid for the altarpiece. In 1527 he entered the services of the wealthy and noble von Erbach family, apparently with a child (whether his own or adopted, is unclear). In 1528 he was called to Halle in Saxony as painter and hydraulics engineer, but he died in Halle before September 1, 1528. Grunewald's works are medieval and Gothic, mystic and national. Stressing emotion and movement, he was more interested in content than the beauty of external form.

Matthias Grünewald

Edit Profile

also known as Mathis Gothardt

painter

Background

Matthias was born in the German city of Würzburg probably in 1500.

Education

Documentary material about his early life and work is very meager, and Grunewald was long neglected.

Career

As a young man he took up residence at Seligenstadt, and by 1503 he was at work on the Lindenhart Altar. From 1505-1508 he was engaged in painting the Mocking of Christ and the Basle Crucifixion.

In 1511 he became court artist of Uriel von Gemmingen, Archbishop of Mainz, and he also worked for the next archbishop, Albert of Brandenburg.

From 1512 to 1514 or 1515 he worked on the Isenheim altarpiece, apparently in partnership with another Mathis, variously surnamed Nithart, Neithart, von Würzburg (after his place of birth), or Gothardt. Grünewald seems to have left Isenheim in a hurry, returning to Frankfurt, and his subsequent poverty suggests he was not fully paid for the altarpiece.

In 1527 he entered the services of the wealthy and noble von Erbach family, apparently with a child (whether his own or adopted, is unclear).

In 1528 he was called to Halle in Saxony as painter and hydraulics engineer, but he died in Halle before September 1, 1528.

Grunewald's works are medieval and Gothic, mystic and national. Stressing emotion and movement, he was more interested in content than the beauty of external form.

Achievements

The wings of the altarpiece of the Antonite monastery at Isenheim, in southern Alsace (dated 1515), are considered to be Matthias Grunewald's masterpiece.

Connections

In 1512 he settled in nearby Frankfurt where records indicate he bought a house and married Anna.

The marriage was not happy.

Spouse:: Anna

References

Matthias Grünewald.

Main Photo