"Small Miracle Altarpiece of Mariazell"
Arranged in sequence like a comic strip, this panel shows six miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary at the pilgrimage site of Mariazell: healing the sick, an exorcism, and a reconciliation between dueling neighbors. In all the scenes, Mary and Jesus appear in the sky surrounded by an aureole. Such depictions served to strengthen popular piety in the medieval world. However, there are also clear traces of the early modern period. The true-to-life, atmospheric depictions of the landscape reflect a hitherto unknown feel for nature. The work closely resembles the art of Lucas Cranach the Elder, who spent several years in Vienna in the early sixteenth century.
1512
Tempera on Sprucewood
80.0 x 165.0cm
Image © Belvedere, Wien, 2021