Martin Schongauer
(1448 - 1491) |
|
Painter and engraver of exquisite prints of religious subjects; tender and graceful images; clear and florid line; volume and depth to his figures Art Work
| Name: |
Martin Schongauer |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Place of Birth: |
Colmar, France |
| Nationality: |
German |
| Birth: |
1448 |
| Death: |
1491 |
| Website: |
|
| Past Auctions: |
Click Here |
|
|
Quick Facts
| Known For: |
Painter and engraver of exquisite prints of religious subjects; tender and graceful images; clear and florid line; volume and depth to his figures |
| Medium: |
|
| Method: |
|
| Style: |
|
| Fine Art Profession(s): |
Painting
Etching
Printmaking |
|
|
Biography
| A specialist engraver and painter, Martin Schongauer came from the city of Colmar in the Alsace region of France. It is presumed that he trained as an engraver with his father, a goldsmith. His work was also influenced by the art of an engraver known as "Master E. S." and by early Netherlandish art-especially the work of Rogier van der Weyden. With the hope of meeting Schongauer, the young Albrecht Durer traveled across Germany in 1492-though sadly, he arrived shortly after the older artist's death. Mainly working within a Gothic tradition, Schongauer's work is characterized by his use of clear and florid lines. Mostly he depicted religious subjects and produced a number of enchanting images of the Virgin Mary and holy family. Perhaps Schongauer's most exemplary work is the Madonna in the Rose Garden (1473). His only dated piece, it represents a distinctive landmark in his career. The deceptively simple and balanced composition is filled by a monumental yet elegant Virgin dressed in a red cloak, a figure that would recur in his paintings. With the use of careful foreshortening, Schongauer is able to represent her form convincingly as a volume in space. Although the Virgin sits in a shallow space, before a flat gold background, the artist was also able to convey a sense of depth by means of the skillful application of perspective. The overwhelming feeling in his art is one of quiet intimacy, and the gracefulness of his work soon became legendary. Although immensely skilled as a painter, it was as a printmaker that Schongauer's fame spread beyond the Alps. Easily reproduced in large numbers and widely distributed, his engravings were appreciated for their wide range of depicted tones and textures. |
Samples of Work
|
|
