It continued a convention of medieval artworks, which was to communicate religious ideas
The Isenheim Altarpiece was used as a piece of religious art in the hospital chapel of the Monastery of St. Anthony in Isenheim, France. It served as a visual aid for meditation, prayer, and as a source of comfort and hope for the sick and suffering patients in the hospital.
San Giacomo dell'Orio Altarpiece was created in 1546.
The Isenheim Altarpiece, created by Matthias Grünewald, differs from other artworks of the same period due to its intense and emotional depiction of suffering, particularly in the crucifixion scenes. The altarpiece's focus on the theme of pain and redemption sets it apart from other Renaissance art that tended to idealize figures and scenes. Additionally, the altarpiece's striking use of color and detail, as well as its innovative folding panels, also distinguish it from contemporary works.
Colmar is in France, in the Bas-Rhin department. It is famous for Matthias Grünewald's Isenheim Altarpiece. Note. Colmar is in Alsace, and at various times in the past has been in Germany.
They were famous German artists in the sixteenth century. Grunewald is famous for his Isenheim altarpiece, which shows the crucifixion of Christ and was originally located in a hospital so Christ could "look over" patients. Durer had a fiery personality like Michelangelo's, and is famous for his apocalypse woodcuts.
the isenheim masterpiece
Altarpieces are not considered sculptures, but they may include sculptures, usually in combination with paintings. An altarpiece consists of one or more paintings or sculptures, or a combination of both, on one or more panels (two panels is a diptych, three is a triptych) in a frame. The paintings are painted on wood panels and any sculptures are usually made of wood. There may or may not be hinges so some of the panels can close, revealing other images on the backs of the closed panels. Altarpieces were designed to be placed first in front of, then later behind and above the altar in a church. They contain Christian religious imagery, usually stories from the Bible. Among the most well-regarded are: the Maesta Altarpiece (1308-1311, paintings only) by Duccio; the Ghent Altarpiece (1432, paintings only) by Jan van Eyck; the Portinari Altarpiece (1475, paintings only) by Hugo van der Goes; the St. Wolfgang Altarpiece (1471-1481, paintings & sculptures) by Michael Pacher; the Veit Stoss Altarpiece (1477-1489, primarily sculptures) by Veit Stoss; and the Isenheim Altarpiece (1512-1516, paintings & sculptures) by Mattias Grunewald.
My notes on the altarpiece; hopefully this is what you mean by "characterize"Reflects Catholic beliefsCreated for the monastic hospital order Saint Anthony of IsenheimSaint Sebastian is on the left, Saint Anthony is on the right, lamentation is on the predellaSaint Anthony and Saint Sebastian are associated with miraculous curesIt is meant to encourage devotion and provide hopeThe right panel:Depicts the five temptations as monstrous creaturesThe grotesque man has ergotism which was known as "Saint Anthony's fire"They didn't know what caused "Saint Anthony's fire" until the 1600sIt was a major illness at the time that was treated in this hospitalThe left panel:The meeting of Saint Anthony and Saint Paul
People did not react at all, because only a handful of monks saw it. It was painted for the chapel of the Isenheim monastery.
masaccio: Brancacci chapel frescoes;; michelangelo: doni tondo;; massys: the grotesque old woman;; (.apex)