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Martin Schongauer was a German etcher from the 15th century. Because of his specialty of breathing a touch of real everyday life into his main religious motifs, the works of this talented artist were very popular internationally. The drawings and etchings of the pious man were sold throughout Europe during his lifetime. Schongauer's works were sent to Italy, England and even Spain. Little is documented about Schongauer's private life. One thing that is certain is that he was the son of a simple goldsmith. Schongauer was probably born in Augsburg in 1450. Already a successful artist, he chose the city of Colmar as his preferred place to live and work. In Colmar he also founded an engraving school from which many renowned artists emerged. Due to his clear and organized style, Schongauer is classified as a Gothic artist. As was customary among artists in the late Middle Ages, he painted his own monogram on all his works and often also on the works of his students. It is therefore not always clear which pictures were really created by him.
The talented artist developed a technique to create deeper lines on a printing plate. In this way more impressions could be made before the plate was worn out. This was a lucrative achievement for the businessman Schongauer, as it enabled him to produce and sell more pictures.
Schongauer's model was the Flemish painter Rogier van der Weyden. Influenced by him, the German developed his personal style of imposing colourfulness combined with a masterly precision. One of the few paintings that can certainly be attributed to Schongauer is the magnificent altarpiece in the church of St. Martin in his adopted home of Colmar. Furthermore, the series "The Passion and Death", "The Coronation of the Virgin" and the series "The Wise and the Foolish Virgins" have been confirmed as Schongauer's works.
Martin Schongauer was a German etcher from the 15th century. Because of his specialty of breathing a touch of real everyday life into his main religious motifs, the works of this talented artist were very popular internationally. The drawings and etchings of the pious man were sold throughout Europe during his lifetime. Schongauer's works were sent to Italy, England and even Spain. Little is documented about Schongauer's private life. One thing that is certain is that he was the son of a simple goldsmith. Schongauer was probably born in Augsburg in 1450. Already a successful artist, he chose the city of Colmar as his preferred place to live and work. In Colmar he also founded an engraving school from which many renowned artists emerged. Due to his clear and organized style, Schongauer is classified as a Gothic artist. As was customary among artists in the late Middle Ages, he painted his own monogram on all his works and often also on the works of his students. It is therefore not always clear which pictures were really created by him.
The talented artist developed a technique to create deeper lines on a printing plate. In this way more impressions could be made before the plate was worn out. This was a lucrative achievement for the businessman Schongauer, as it enabled him to produce and sell more pictures.
Schongauer's model was the Flemish painter Rogier van der Weyden. Influenced by him, the German developed his personal style of imposing colourfulness combined with a masterly precision. One of the few paintings that can certainly be attributed to Schongauer is the magnificent altarpiece in the church of St. Martin in his adopted home of Colmar. Furthermore, the series "The Passion and Death", "The Coronation of the Virgin" and the series "The Wise and the Foolish Virgins" have been confirmed as Schongauer's works.