Altar of Veit Stoss

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The altarpiece of Veit Stoss (Polish: Ołtarz Wita Stwosza, German: Krakauer Hochaltar), also St. Mary's altar (Ołtarz Mariacki), is the largest Gothic altarpiece in the World. It is located behind the main altar of St. Mary's Church, Kraków, Poland.

The altarpiece was carved by the sculptor Veit Stoss, between 1477 and 1489. The costs, over two thousand gulden, were funded by the citizens of Kraków.

During the Second World War and the German occupation of Poland, the altarpiece was removed and transported to Germany. It survived the war relatively unscathed and was returned to Poland in 1946 and to St. Mary's Church in 1957.

The altar was restored several times in its history: before 1600, in 1866-1870, 1932-1933, 1946-1949 and in 1999.

St. John Cantius in Chicago, a historic church in the 'Polish Cathedral' style contains a detailed copy of this masterpiece. This one-third scale copy is the largest and most detailed of work of its kind, and was commissioned in 2003 as a tribute to the Galician immigrants who founded the parish in 1893.

[edit] Description

The altarpiece is about 13 m high and 11 m wide when the panels of the triptych are opened wide. The realistically sculptured figures are up to 2.7 m tall; each one was carved out of a tree trunk, mainly from lime (linden). Other parts of the altarpiece were made from oak wood, and the background was constructed of larch wood.

The main scene in the center bottom shows the moment Mary is passing away in the presence of the Twelve Apostles. In the upper part of the center, the Assumption of the Madonna is illustrated. On the very top, outside the main frame, the coronation of Mary is shown, flanked by figures of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Adalbert of Prague.

When opened, the panels show six scenes of the joys of Mary:

Annunciation	Center scene	Resurrection of Christ
Nativity scene		Ascension of Christ
Three Wise Men		descent of the Holy Spirit

When closed, the panels shows twelve scenes of the life of Jesus and Mary.

[edit] Photos

Overview	Center of the altarpiece	Dormition of Mary	Dormition of Mary, detail
Assumption of Mary	Coronation of Mary, with St. Stanislaus and St. Adalbert	Annunciation	Nativity scene
Three Wise Men	Resurrection of Christ	Ascension of Christ	Descent of the Holy Spirit

[edit] References

• Burkhard, Arthur. The Cracow Altar of Veit Stoss. Munich, F. Bruckmann, 1972.
• Bujak, Adam - Rożek, Michał (text). Cracow - St. Mary's Basilica. Biały Kruk, 2001, ISBN 83-914021-8-5
• Encyklopedia Krakowa, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa-Kraków 2000, ISBN 83-01-13325-2