Tilman Riemenschneider: Master Sculptor of the Late Middle Ages

The sculptures of Tilman Riemenschneider, among the most appealing works of the Middle Ages, stand solidly in the late Gothic tradition yet look daringly forward. This book explores many aspects of Riemenschneider`s art and presents some fifty works representing each stage of his career, including the great altarpieces in Rothenburg on the Tauber, Creglingen, and Maidbronn.

A remarkable German sculptor, Riemenschneider produced delicate religious pieces in stone and wood from the late 15th to early 16th centuries. Time took its toll on his work, and the sculptures were broken up, destroyed, or forgotten. As part of an exhibition organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 45 of Riemenschneider's sculptures have been brought back together. This book serves not only as a catalog but also as a detailed introduction to this fine artisan and his work. Chapuis, an assistant curator in the Department of Medieval Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with contributing scholars and specialists, has fleshed out the artist's life, his period, and his contributions. Most interesting is the discussion of Riemenschneider's development of monochromy: rather than undertake a heavy use of paint on his pieces, he preferred to let the wood show through, contrary to the convention of the time. The full-page color pictures show every detail of the carvings. Recommended for academic libraries and specialized collections.
-Karen Ellis, Baldwin Boettcher Lib., Humble, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.