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MOSER, Lucas - b. ~1390 Weil der Stadt, d. ~1450 ? - WGA

MOSER, Lucas

(b. ~1390 Weil der Stadt, d. ~1450 ?)

German painter. He was born in Weil der Stadt near Stuttgart, but probably worked mostly in Ulm, where he also produced designs for stained glass. His name is known only through an inscription on the frame of the altarpiece above the altar of St Mary Magdalene in the parish church at Tiefenbronn, near Pforzheim. Moser was certainly familiar with northern Italian art, and perhaps also with earlier Tuscan painting. He probably visited Provence and southern France, and also had first-hand knowledge of Franco-Flemish innovations.

The Magdalene Altar is as important to the art of German-speaking lands as van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece is to that of the Netherlands. Both were completed in 1432.

Magdalene Altar
Magdalene Altar by

Magdalene Altar

This altarpiece ranks among those exceptional works produced in Germany in the first half of the 15th century. It is as important to the art of German-speaking lands as van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece is to that of the Netherlands. Both were completed in 1432.

The main front of the Magdalene Altar is divided into three scenes, all obeying the same perspective and lit from a single source. The pediment depicts the Feast in the house of Simon, while below we see the voyage of Saints Mary Magdalene, Martha, Lazarus, Maximinus and Sidonius (left); Saints Sidonius, Maximinus, Lazarus and Martha asleep (centre); St Mary Magdalene appearing to the prince and his wife in a dream (above); and the Last Communion of St Mary Magdalene (right).

The landscape and architecture create an astonishing impression of depth and are observed with a keen eye: the sea is partly underlaid with a sheet of metal foil to make it look more watery.

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