# Matthias Grünewald

> German Renaissance painter (c.1480–1528)

**Wikidata**: [Q154338](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q154338)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Grünewald)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/matthias-grunewald

## Summary
Matthias Grünewald (c. 1480–1528) was a German Renaissance painter renowned for his intensely emotional religious artworks. He is best known for the Isenheim Altarpiece (1510–1512), a masterwork of Northern Renaissance art celebrated for its vivid depiction of the Crucifixion and spiritual depth. In addition to painting, Grünewald worked as an engineer, architect, draftsperson, architectural draftsperson, and general contractor.

## Biography
- **Born**: c. 1480 (alternative dates: 1455, January 1, 1480)
- **Died**: August 31, 1528
- **Nationality**: German (citizenship: Germany)
- **Also Known As**: Mathis Gothart-Nithart, Mathis Gotthardt, Mathis Neithardt, Matthias Neithardt, Mathis Grün, Mathes Grunewald, Mathis Grunewald, Mathaeus Grünewald, Matthias Griuneval'd, der Maler Mathis
- **Known for**: Religious paintings with intense emotional expression and vivid color
- **Occupations**: Painter, engineer, architect, draftsperson, architectural draftsperson, general contractor
- **Field(s)**: Painting, religious art

## Contributions

### Major Paintings and Altarpieces

1. **The Mocking of Christ** (1504): An early work demonstrating Grünewald's mastery of emotional intensity and dramatic composition. Country: Germany.

2. **Isenheim Altarpiece** (1510–1512): Grünewald's most celebrated achievement, created in collaboration with sculptor Nikolaus Hagenauer, who produced the sculptural elements while Grünewald painted the panels. The altarpiece is renowned for its harrowing Crucifixion scene and intricate, expressive panels. Country: France.

3. **Stuppach Madonna** (1514): A painting showcasing Grünewald's skill in portraying divine figures with human tenderness and vibrant color. Country: Germany.

4. **Meeting of St Erasm and St Maurice** (January 1, 1520): A painting that highlights Grünewald's ability to render religious narratives with expressive detail. Country: Germany.

5. **Tauberbischofsheim Altarpiece** (1523): A later work consisting of two paintings, housed in the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, Germany.

### Cultural Legacy Works Inspired by Grünewald

- **Symphony: Mathis der Maler** (1934): An orchestral work by German composer Paul Hindemith, directly inspired by Grünewald's life and art.

- **9645 Grünewald**: An asteroid named in his honor, commemorating his enduring significance.

## FAQs

**What is Matthias Grünewald's most famous work?**
The Isenheim Altarpiece (1510–1512) is Grünewald's most renowned creation. Painted in collaboration with sculptor Nikolaus Hagenauer, it is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Northern Renaissance art.

**What artistic genre is Grünewald associated with?**
Grünewald is associated with religious art, a genre focusing on spiritual and biblical themes. His works are characterized by intense emotional expression and vivid, dramatic use of color.

**What was Grünewald's role beyond painting?**
In addition to being a painter, Grünewald worked as an engineer, architect, draftsperson, architectural draftsperson, and general contractor—reflecting the Renaissance ideal of mastery across multiple disciplines.

**How did Grünewald influence later art movements?**
Grünewald's expressive style and emotional intensity influenced the German Expressionist group **Die Brücke**, founded on June 7, 1905. His bold use of color and dramatic compositions resonated with Expressionist principles.

**Where are Grünewald's works located today?**
His works are housed in multiple countries. The Isenheim Altarpiece is located in France, while the Stuppach Madonna, The Mocking of Christ, Meeting of St Erasm and St Maurice, and the Tauberbischofsheim Altarpiece are in Germany.

## Why They Matter
Matthias Grünewald holds a singular position in art history as one of the greatest German Renaissance painters, distinguished by his emotionally charged religious works. Unlike his contemporaries who moved toward Renaissance realism and proportion, Grünewald pursued a path of spiritual and psychological intensity that was centuries ahead of its time. The Isenheim Altarpiece alone—painted for a hospital treating plague and skin disease patients—transformed how suffering and redemption could be visually represented.

His influence extended far beyond his lifetime. The German Expressionist group **Die Brücke** (founded 1905) found in Grünewald a spiritual precursor to their own bold, emotionally direct style. Composer Paul Hindemith paid tribute with his symphony *Mathis der Maler* (1934), and an asteroid (9645 Grünewald) bears his name. Without Grünewald, the bridge between late Gothic emotionalism and modern Expressionism would be far less clear.

## Notable For
- **Isenheim Altarpiece (1510–1512)**: Universally regarded as one of the most important altarpieces in Western art history
- **Stuppach Madonna (1514)**: A masterwork of devotional painting
- **Pioneering Emotional Intensity**: Grünewald's vivid, psychologically complex religious paintings broke from convention
- **Multidisciplinary Career**: Painter, engineer, architect, draftsperson, architectural draftsperson, and general contractor
- **Influence on German Expressionism**: Specifically cited as an inspiration by **Die Brücke**, founded 1905
- **Musical Tribute**: Paul Hindemith's *Symphony: Mathis der Maler* (1934) composed in his honor
- **Asteroid 9645 Grünewald**: Named in recognition of his cultural significance

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Matthias Grünewald was born circa 1480 in Germany, though alternative records suggest dates as early as 1455 or precisely January 1, 1480. His identity was complex, evidenced by his numerous aliases: Mathis Gothart-Nithart, Mathis Gotthardt, Mathis Neithardt, Matthias Neithardt, Mathis Grün, Mathes Grunewald, Mathis Grunewald, Mathaeus Grünewald, Matthias Griuneval'd, and "der Maler Mathis" (the painter Mathis). He died on August 31, 1528.

### Artistic Output
Grünewald's body of work spans approximately two decades and is dominated by religious subjects:

- **The Mocking of Christ** (1504, Germany): An early painting establishing Grünewald's dramatic style.
- **Isenheim Altarpiece** (1510–1512, France): His magnum opus, created with sculptor Nikolaus Hagenauer. The polyptych's panels depict the Crucifixion, the Annunciation, the Resurrection, and other biblical scenes with unparalleled emotional force.
- **Stuppach Madonna** (1514, Germany): A devotional image of the Virgin Mary noted for its luminous color.
- **Meeting of St Erasm and St Maurice** (1520, Germany): A narrative work depicting the encounter between two saints.
- **Tauberbischofsheim Altarpiece** (1523, Germany): Two paintings now held at the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe.

### Professional Versatility
Beyond painting, Grünewald's professional life encompassed roles as:
- **Engineer**
- **Architect**
- **Draftsperson**
- **Architectural Draftsperson**
- **General Contractor**

This breadth of activity aligns with the Renaissance ideal of the versatile creative professional, applying design and technical skill across disciplines.

### Artistic Field and Genre
Grünewald operated within the field of painting, specifically the genre of **religious art**—a category of artwork with spiritual or biblical themes. His approach to this genre was distinctive for its expressive color, contorted figures, and unflinching depictions of suffering and ecstasy.

### Cultural and Artistic Legacy
Grünewald's posthumous influence has been substantial:

- **Die Brücke** (founded June 7, 1905, Germany): This German Expressionist artist group drew inspiration from Grünewald's emotional directness and bold color sense.
- **Paul Hindemith's *Symphony: Mathis der Maler*** (1934): A major orchestral work by one of Germany's foremost composers, directly inspired by Grünewald's life and the Isenheim Altarpiece.
- **Asteroid 9645 Grünewald**: Named in his honor, reflecting his enduring cultural footprint.

### Documentation and Scholarly Recognition
Grünewald is extensively cataloged across major bibliographic and authority systems, with identifiers in VIAF, ISNI, GND, Library of Congress, BNF, SUDOC, NDL, BAV, Harvard VIA, RKD, Mutual Art, Artsy, BFI, Britannica, Deutschen Nationalbibliothek, Brockhaus, Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, Encyclopædia Universalis, Den Store Danske Encyklopædi, Store norske leksikon, and many others—attesting to his canonical status in art history. His Wikipedia entry spans 51 sitelinks across multiple languages.

## References

1. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
2. BnF authorities
3. RKDartists
4. Integrated Authority File
5. Union List of Artist Names
6. [The Fine Art Archive](https://cs.isabart.org/person/28790)
7. [Source](https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/matthias-gruenewald/)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. CiNii Research
11. MusicBrainz
12. SNAC
13. Google Knowledge Graph
14. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Grünewald%20Matthias)
15. IdRef
16. [LIBRIS. 2009](https://libris.kb.se/zw9ccg7h369x39t)
17. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
18. [Source](https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma99767203504896)