(2025) MiNr. (Bl. ) ** - Austria - Christmas - "Altar of St. Anne" by Wolf Huber, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Feldkirch

Altarpiece of St. Anne by Wolf Huber in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Feldkirch

- the stamp sheet is closed when sold and must be opened to see the stamp itself!

The art of the late Gothic and early Renaissance in Austria takes many forms, but one of its highlights is undoubtedly the Altarpiece of St. Anne by Wolf Huber, located in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Feldkirch. This exceptional work was created around 1521 and represents not only an important religious work but also a key landmark in the history of Austrian panel painting.

Wolf Huber (c. 1485-1553) was one of the main representatives of the so-called donauschule, a Danube school that combined traditional Gothic elements with the newly emerging Renaissance realism and landscape painting. Huber's work bears the influence of Albrecht Dürer, but is characterized by a strong personal signature, especially in his work with light, landscape and spatial depth.

The Altarpiece of St. Anne was created for the parish church in Feldkirch, which in 1968 became the cathedral of the newly established Diocese of Feldkirch. It consists of a main central panel and movable wings, which corresponds to the type of the so-called church altar. In its closed form it depicts scenes from the Passion of Christ, while the open one offers a central scene of St. Anne, the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus, surrounded by saints.

The iconographic concept itself is also interesting. St Anne is traditionally depicted as the teacher of the Virgin, referring to the importance of education and intergenerational continuity of faith. The altar thus has not only an aesthetic value, but also a theological and cultural overlap. Note the detailed execution of the textiles, the architectural background and the landscape in the background - it is this combination that testifies to Huber's mastery and the transition between medieval and modern art.

The altar has been restored several times over the centuries. Nevertheless, it has retained its original layers of polychrome and gilding, making it an authentic witness to the artistic culture of the first half of the 16th century. The Altar of St. Anne is one of the most valuable works of art in Vorarlberg and is a regular destination for experts and lovers of sacred art.

From the perspective of cultural history and art history, this altar is also of great importance to collectors and researchers, who are interested in topics such as Austrian sacred art, Gothic and Renaissance altars or the iconography of St. Anne in the European tradition. Thanks to its specific subject matter, it often appears in specialized publications and as a subject for exhibitions.