The ''Jabach Altarpiece'' comprises two pairs of

oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturate ...

on lime tree panel paintings by German Renaissance artist

Albrecht Dürer Albrecht Dürer ( , ;; 21 May 1471 – 6 April 1528),Müller, Peter O. (1993) ''Substantiv-Derivation in Den Schriften Albrecht Dürers'', Walter de Gruyter. . sometimes spelled in English as Durer or Duerer, was a German painter, Old master prin ...

, executed around 1503–1504. Originally a

triptych A triptych ( ) is a work of art (usually a panel painting) that is divided into three sections, or three carved panels that are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all m ...

, the central panels are lost. Only the outer and inner side panels are now preserved: the left picture with Job and His Wife, measuring 96 × 51.5 cm, is housed in the

Städel The Städel, officially the ''Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie'', is an art museum in Frankfurt, with one of the most important collections in Germany. The museum is located at the Museumsufer on the Sachsenhausen bank of t ...

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

; the picture of the Piper and a Drummer on the right, measuring 94 x 57 cm, is housed in the Wallraf-Richartz Museum of

Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...

. These two certain paintings of the Jabach Altarpiece form a single image on the external shutters once closed. The two share a common background, and the dress of Job's wife continues to the right panel as well. The two pairs of ''Apostles'' on gilded background now at the

Alte Pinakothek The Alte Pinakothek (, ''Old Pinakothek'') is an art museum located in the Kunstareal area in Munich, Germany. It is one of the oldest galleries in the world and houses a significant collection of Old Master paintings. The name Alte (Old) Pin ...

in Munich –''Sts. Joseph and Joachim'' (96 × 54 cm), and ''Sts. Simon and Lazarus'' (97 × 55 cm)– have been commonly associated with the

polyptych A polyptych ( ; Greek: ''poly-'' "many" and ''ptychē'' "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) which is divided into sections, or panels. Some definitions restrict "polyptych" to works with more than three sections: a diptych is ...

. They are supposedly the panels on the inside of the wings.

History

The altarpiece was probably commissioned by

Frederick III, Elector of Saxony Frederick III (17 January 1463 – 5 May 1525), also known as Frederick the Wise (German: ''Friedrich der Weise''), was Prince-elector of Electorate of Saxony, Saxony from 1486 to 1525, who is mostly remembered for the protection given to his su ...

, for a chapel in his castle at

Wittenberg Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is the fourth-largest town in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, in the Germany, Federal Republic of Germany. It is situated on the River Elbe, north of Leipzig and south-west of the reunified German ...

, perhaps in occasion of the end of the plague in 1503. The reconstruction of the work is disputed. Some art historians identify the central panel with the

Uffizi The Uffizi Gallery ( ; , ) is a prominent art museum adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in the region of Tuscany, Italy. One of the most important Italian museums and the most visited, it is also one of th ...

''Adoration of the Magi'', while according to others there was instead a group of sculptures. It is named after one of its owners,

Everhard Jabach Everhard or Eberhard Jabach (10 July 1618 – 9 March 1695) was a French businessman, art collector, and director of the French East India Company. He was born in Cologne in the Holy Roman Empire but later naturalised as a French subject. Life H ...

, in whose family chapel it was still hanging in the late 18th century, before being split up and scattered to different locations.

Description

The left panel depicts the prophet

Job Work, labor (labour in Commonwealth English), occupation or job is the intentional activity people perform to support the needs and desires of themselves, other people, or organizations. In the context of economics, work can be seen as the huma ...

seated on a dungheap, with a desperate expression on his face, after

Satan Satan, also known as the Devil, is a devilish entity in Abrahamic religions who seduces humans into sin (or falsehood). In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to God, typically regarded as a metaphor for the '' yetzer hara'', or ' ...

has defied him to keep his allegiance to God even in the most tremendous afflictions. These include his flock getting scattered in the other panel, while his properties are on fire at the left edge. Further, his skin is covered by blisters, an appropriate element for a painting likely originated as an

ex-voto An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or a divinity, given in fulfillment of a vow (hence the Latin term, short for ''ex voto suscepto'', "from the vow made") or in gratitude or devotion. The term is usually restricted to Christian example ...

for the end of plague. His wife, dressed in Renaissance garments, is pouring dirty water above him, while a small devil flees in the far background. The right panel shows two standing musicians. The right one, with the drum, is perhaps a self-portrait. Their meaning has not been explained: they could be a further element of mockery against Job, or, instead, an attempt to console him through music. Albrecht Dürer, Jabach Altarpiece, Sts Joseph and Joachim, c1503-5, Alte Pinakothek München (WAF228).jpg, ''Sts. Joseph and Joachim,'' Munich, Alte Pinakothek (WAF 228) Albrecht Dürer, Jabach Altarpiece, Sts Simeon and Lazarus, c1503-5, Alte Pinakothek München (WAF229).jpg, ''Sts. Simon and Lazarus,'' Munich (WAF 229) Job on the Dungheap (SM 890).png, ''Job on the Dungheap,'' Frankfurt,

(SM 890) Albrecht Dürer 028.png, ''Piper and Drummer,'' Cologne, Wallraf-Richartz Museum (WRM 0369)

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jabach Altarpiece Paintings by Albrecht Dürer 1500s paintings Paintings in the Städel Collection of the Wallraf–Richartz Museum Paintings of Hebrew Bible people Altarpieces Musical instruments in art Water in art

History

Description

See also

References

Sources