The 19 Most Famous Master Francke Paintings, a Gallery Selection

Dormition of the Mother of God from Barbara altar from the Kalanti church in Finland

The Dormition of the Mother of God from Barbara altar from the Kalanti church in Finland is a significant component of the larger Saint Barbara Altarpiece. Created by the North German artist Master Francke, this specific work belongs to a larger Virgin Mary cycle that spans the corpus and the inner wings of the altarpiece. The subject matter focuses on the profound theological narrative of Mary's death and her subsequent…

Adoration of the Magi

The painting is a depiction of the Adoration of the Magi, a scene centered on Mary holding her baby Jesus in her arms. She is surrounded by a gathering of twelve people, some of whom stand in close proximity to the viewer while others are positioned further away in the composition. The scene is further detailed by the presence of two chairs, one located near the left side and another…

Birth of Jesus

In the quiet, hallowed atmosphere of the early fifteenth century, a masterpiece emerged that would capture the spiritual fervor of the late Gothic era. Master Francke, the enigmatic Dutch virtuoso known as Frater Francke, crafted his Birth of Jesus in 1424 with a profound sense of theatricality and devotion. This is not merely a depiction of a stable scene; it is a cosmic event rendered on wood. The painting commands…

The Martyrdom of Saint Thomas of Canterbury

A Moment of Violent Devotion The scene unfolds with a heavy, dramatic tension, capturing the precise moment of Saint Thomas Becket's death within the cathedral. Four knights surround the Archbishop, their presence defined by the cold steel of a sword and the weight of a shield. There is a palpable sense of movement in the composition, as if the air itself has thickened with the gravity of the act. The…

The Entombment

The artwork is titled The Entombment, a work executed by the artist Master Francke. This specific piece functions as a panel from the St. Thomas Altar. It originated from St. John's Church in Hamburg, Germany. The painting is a religious composition that depicts the deposition of Christ following the crucifixion.

Resurrection of Christ

In the profound stillness of the early fifteenth century, a moment of eternal victory was captured on panel by the hand of Master Francke. The Resurrection of Christ is not merely a depiction of a biblical event; it is a visceral experience of triumph over the shadows of mortality. As the eye meets the central figure of Jesus, one is immediately struck by the sheer kinetic energy of his ascent.…

Adoration of the Child

In the quiet, hallowed atmosphere of the early fifteenth century, a profound moment of divine intimacy was captured by the hand of Master Francke. His masterpiece, Adoration of the Child, dating to approximately 1426, serves as a breathtaking window into the spiritual fervor of the North German Gothic tradition. The scene unfolds with a tender, almost breathless reverence, as the Virgin Mary cradles the infant Jesus, lifting him toward the…

The Mocking of Saint Thomas of Canterbury

In the evocative scene of The Mocking of Saint Thomas of Canterbury, we are transported back to the visceral intensity of the early 15th century. Created around 1426 by the enigmatic North German master known as Frater Francke, this work captures a moment of profound tension and spiritual confrontation. The composition centers on a figure draped in a striking red robe, mounted upon a noble white horse, caught in the…

The Women at the Cross (fragment)

The fragment captures a moment of profound grief, centering on the Virgin Mary and a group of women gathered in sorrow. They are draped in long gowns, their heads covered by veils, their postures reflecting the weight of loss following the death of Jesus Christ. In the background, a horse and a smaller group of figures suggest a larger, more complex narrative unfolding beyond this immediate circle of lamentation. Scattered…

Barbara Altar, inside the wing