# Magdalene Altar [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [MOSER, Lukas]() - Date: 1401-1450 - Technique: Mixed technique on wood, 300 x 240 cm ## Commentary This altarpiece ranks among those exceptional works produced in Germany in the first half of the 15th century. It is as important to the art of German-speaking lands as van Eyck's <A onclick="return OpenOther\('/html/e/eyck\_van/jan/09ghent/index.html'\)" HREF="/html/e/eyck\_van/jan/09ghent/index.html">Ghent Altarpiece</A> is to that of the Netherlands. Both were completed in 1432. The main front of the Magdalene Altar is divided into three scenes, all obeying the same perspective and lit from a single source. The pediment depicts the Feast in the house of Simon, while below we see the voyage of Saints Mary Magdalene, Martha, Lazarus, Maximinus and Sidonius \(left\); Saints Sidonius, Maximinus, Lazarus and Martha asleep \(centre\); St Mary Magdalene appearing to the prince and his wife in a dream \(above\); and the Last Communion of St Mary Magdalene \(right\). The landscape and architecture create an astonishing impression of depth and are observed with a keen eye: the sea is partly underlaid with a sheet of metal foil to make it look more watery. ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()