Page 98 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

96  KR AK OW AREA B Y AREA

Exploring St Mary’s: The High Altar

The high altar by Veit Stoss was made between 1477 and 1489.
It is dedicated, like the church itself, to the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary. The altar is a polyptych, some 11 m (36 ft) long
and 12 m (39 ft) high – though it was even higher originally.
The iconography determined its composition. The shutters
were closed throughout the liturgical year but opened during
important church feasts. The treatment of the human figure
is naturalistic, dynamic and dramatically expressive. The low
reliefs and figures of saints are masterpieces of late-Gothic art.
The Lamentation
The design of this particular
The Meeting of The middle shutters panel was influenced by
St Anne and are opened every day Netherlandish painting.
St Joachim at 11:50am.
The Three Maries
The Capture at the Sepulchre
of Christ The Crucifixion
The Birth of The Descent into Hell
the Virgin

The Risen Christ
The Presentation of the appearing to Mary
Virgin in the Temple The Entombment Magdalene

The Presentation of
Christ in the Temple
In this scene the artist tries
to recreate the interior
of the temple.
Christ among the Doctors
This scene testifies to Stoss’s
masterly depiction of the
diverse physiognomies.