Isenheim Altarpiece: Grünewald's Polyptych of Pain and Healing

Commissioned in 1512 by the Antonite Order, the Isenheim Altarpiece is a polyptych crafted by Matthias Grünewald and Nikolaus Hagenauer, located in Isenheim, approximately 15 miles south of Colmar, France. Completed in four years, it was situated on the high altar of the monastery hospital's chapel until the French Revolution. Grünewald painted the panels, while Hagenauer handled the intricate sculptures. When closed, the altarpiece features a striking Crucifixion, depicting Christ in agony, marked by signs of skin disease to connect with patients afflicted by ergotism, also known as St. Anthony's fire. The iconography emphasizes the hospital's purpose, highlighting St. Anthony, the patron saint of those with skin ailments. The second view illustrates Mary's narrative, including the Annunciation, a Concert of Angels, the Birth of Jesus, and a glorified Risen Christ. The right panel of the third view is thought to be influenced by Martin Schongauer's engraving Temptation of St. Anthony (1470), which Michelangelo famously copied as a color drawing at the age of 13. Sixten Ringbom's Icon to Narrative explores how artists create intimacy with distant events through close-ups, a technique evident in the altarpiece's portrayal of Christ. Today, it is housed at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, France.