Martin Schongauer 1

Martin Schongauer

Ecce Homo, engraving from the Passion series by Martin Schongauer.

Martin Schongauer (c. 1448 – 2 February 1491)was a German engraver and painter. He was the mostimportant German printmaker before Albrecht Dürer.

His prints were circulated widely and Schongauerwas known in Italy by the names Bellendo Martinoand Martino d'Anversa.

Biography

His father was a goldsmith named henry, a native ofAugsburg, who had settled at Colmar, where thechief part of Martin's life was spent. He may wellhave been trained by Master E. S.; A. Hyatt Mayorsaw both their styles in different parts of oneengraving, and all the works with Schongauer's M†Smonogram show a fully developed style. Schongauerestablished at Colmar a very important school ofengraving, out of which grew the "Little Masters" ofthe succeeding generation, and a large group ofNuremberg artists.

As a painter, Schongauer was a follower of theFlemish Rogier van der Weyden, and his rareexisting pictures closely resemble, both in splendourof color and exquisite minuteness of execution, thebest works of contemporary art in Flanders.

Martin Schongauer 2

Porträt einer jungen Frau, by MartinSchongauer, c. 1478, located in Sammlung Heinz

Kisters, Kreuzlingen (Schweiz) in Germany

Among the very few paintings which can with certainty be attributed tohim, the chief is a magnificent altar-piece in the church of Saint Martinat Colmar. The Musée d´Unterlinden in Colmar possesses elevenpanels by him, and a small panel of David with Goliath's Head in theMunich Gallery is attributed to him. The miniature painting of theDeath of the Virgin in the National Gallery, London is probably thework of some pupil. In 1488 Schongauer died at Colmar, according tothe register of Saint Martin Church. Other authorities state that hisdeath occurred in 1491.

The main work of Schongauer's life was the production of a largenumber of beautiful engravings, which were largely sold, not only inGermany, but also in Italy and even in England and Spain. Vasari saysthat Michelangelo copied one of his engravings, in the Trial of SaintAnthony. His style shows no trace of Italian influence, but a very clearand organised Gothic.

His subjects are mainly religious, but include comic scenes of ordinarylife such as the Peasant family going to market or the Two apprenticesfighting.[1] One hundred and sixteen engravings are generallyrecognised as by his hand, and since several are only known from asingle impression, there were probably others that are now lost. Manyof his pupils' plates as well as his own are signed, M†S, as are many

copies probably by artists with no connection to him.

Martin Schongauer 3

Crucifixion by Schongauer.

Among the most renowned of Schongauer'sengravings are the series of the Passion and theDeath and Coronation of the Virgin, and the seriesof the Wise and Foolish Virgins. All are remarkablefor their miniature-like treatment, their brillianttouch, and their chromatic force. Some, such as theDeath of the Virgin and the Adoration of the Magiare richly-filled compositions of many figures,treated with much largeness of style in spite of theirminute scale.

He established the system of depicting volume bymeans of cross-hatching (lines in two directions)which was further developed by Dürer, and was thefirst engraver to curve parallel lines, probably byrotating the plate against a steady burin. He alsodeveloped a burin technique producing deeper lineson the plate, which meant that more impressionscould be taken before the plate became worn.

The British Museum and other major print roomspossess fine collections of Schongauer's prints.

Notes[1] http:/ / www. bodkinprints. co. uk/ product. php?id=27

References•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Schongauer, Martin". Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge

University Press.• A. Hyatt Mayor, Prints and People, Metropolitan Museum of Art/Princeton, 1971, nos 455-460.ISBN

0-691-00326-2• Alan Shestack; Fifteenth Century Engravings of Northern Europe; 1967, National Gallery of Art (Catalogue),

LOC 67-29080• Maria del Carmen Lacarra Ducay. “Influencia de Martin Schongauer en los primitivos aragoneses,” Boletin del

Museo e Instituto ‘Camon Aznar’, vol. xvii (1984), pp. 15–39.

External links• (http:/ / www. bodkinprints. co. uk/ links. php) -Links to online museum images of most of Schongauer's

engravings (NOT Public Domain images) See section B.•  "Martin Schongauer". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.

Article Sources and Contributors 4

Article Sources and ContributorsMartin Schongauer  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=412617503  Contributors: 83d40m, Alma Pater, Asfarer, Attilios, BD2412, Barticus88, Bera, Bob Burkhardt, Bus stop,D6, Dpotter, FeanorStar7, Gwaihir, JASpencer, Jeekc, Joanenglish, Johnbod, Kafka Liz, Mattis, Nick UA, Pethan, RCS, Rich Farmbrough, Rl, Sam Spade, Scoop100, SlackerMom, Sparkit,TimBentley, Toadally relaxt, Wikibofh, Zsinj, 20 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:SchongauerEcceHomo.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:SchongauerEcceHomo.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: AndreasPraefcke, Bukk, Irmgard,Ranveig, Threedots, Warburg, XenophonImage:Martin Schongauer 004.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Martin_Schongauer_004.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Gryzzly92, Infrogmation,Pingelig, Skipjack, WstImage:6383bassenge2 schongauer.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:6383bassenge2_schongauer.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Johnbod, Warburg, WstFile:Wikisource-logo.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wikisource-logo.svg  License: logo  Contributors: Nicholas MoreauFile:wikisource-logo.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wikisource-logo.svg  License: logo  Contributors: Nicholas Moreau

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