History of the largest Gothic altar in Silesia — a polyptych from the church of Saints Peter and Paul in Legnica

Lecture by Dr. Jacek Witkowski as part of the series “My Silesia. Fascinations”

The largest of the preserved Gothic altars of Silesia, the former retabulum of the main altar of the current cathedral (former lighthouse) of St. Peter and Paul in Legnica. An outstanding work of sculpture as well as a particularly impressive painting from 1466. Historical-artistic studies of the altar (discovery of the signature and stylistic-formal analysis) introduced an important artistic personality to the history of Silesian medieval art — the Wrocław painter Nicolaus Obilman. An acquaintance and one of the most outstanding creators of Wrocław in the 15th century, the exact time of the altar's construction, its founder, as well as the author of an interesting conceptual program are known. We can also point to specific artistic inspirations, both sculptural and painterly, in the late Gothic European art of this still little known and one of the most outstanding works of art of the late Middle Ages in Silesia (currently exhibited in the Gallery of Medieval Art of the National Museum in Warsaw).

National Museum in Wrocław, meeting in the audiovisual room (p. 116), free admission. If you have any questions, please contact the MnWR Education Department: tel. 71 372 51 48 or edukacja@mnwr.pl.