Drei mittelalterliche Tafelwerke in Klosterneuburg: Exempel einer provinziellen Nachfolge des Wiener Albrechtsmeisters

This article examines three medieval panel paintings – The Annunciation to Virgin Mary, The Death of the Virgin, and Christ on the Mount of Olives – which are currently held in the depositary of the monastery museum in Klosterneuburg near Vienna. Previous research attributed these works to the Master of Winzendorf, the author of The Death of the Virgin panel painting in the parish church in Winzendorf. Based on an extensive analysis of the painting styles of these four works, however, this paper argues against this connection. Instead, a different provenance is suggested and the three panels are identified as the work of the direct successor of the Albrechtsmeister in the Vienna region. Furthermore, this article seeks to shed light on the chronology of the three panels, emphasising the parallels with the Great Albrechtsaltar in Klosterneuburg and proposing a dating around 1440. Finally, attention is drawn to the striking resemblance in the punched decoration with two other panel paintings in the monastery museum in Klosterneuburg. In addition to the punched decorations, these five panels exhibit further extensive overlaps in style. Therefore, even though the panels were probably made for different altars, this paper argues that they can be safely attributed to the identical workshop.