Stefan Lochner, also more rarely called Stephan Lochner, was an important painter of the Cologne school of painting in the 15th century. He was born between 1400 and 1410 in Meersburg on Lake Constance and died in Cologne in 1451, probably from the plague. He is often referred to as Master Stefan and is considered one of the main representatives of the Soft Style. In addition, he was one of the first artists to receive the new Dutch painting around Robert Campin and Jan van Eyck.
None of Lochner's works are signed, so the painter remained largely unknown until the 19th century, when interest in medieval Cologne painting revived. The first clue to his identity comes from a note Albrecht Dürer wrote down during his trip to the Netherlands and his stay in Cologne. In it, he mentions having paid two white pennies to see an altarpiece made by a "Master Stefan."
This note prompted researchers to search for a painter named Stefan in medieval Cologne sources, and they found Stefan Lochner. Thus, the "Master Stefan" mentioned in Dürer's note was identified with the prominent painter Stefan Lochner. It was assumed that Dürer had seen the altar of the city patrons, which was in the council chapel at his time, and so the altar Dürer did not name was equated with the altar of the city patrons and the "Master Stefan" mentioned was equated with Stefan Lochner.
Lochner was active in Cologne between 1442 and 1451, but probably lived there before. His family came from Lake Constance, as evidenced by a document from 1451 in which the Cologne Council claimed the inheritance of Lochner's parents in Meersburg on Lake Constance. Therefore, Meersburg is assumed to be his birthplace, although there is no precise evidence of the whereabouts of his parents, Alhete and Georg, at the time of his birth.
Lochner's painting is characterized by flowing robes and lovely faces. He combined the soft style of his time with the novel naturalism of Dutch painting, especially that of Jan van Eyck. His works show influences of the Cologne masters such as the Veronica Master. However, it remains controversial whether the master of the Heisterbach Altarpiece was another artist influenced by Lochner, whether this master was a precursor of Lochner, or whether the Heisterbach Altarpiece is possibly an early work of Lochner.
Stefan Lochner, also more rarely called Stephan Lochner, was an important painter of the Cologne school of painting in the 15th century. He was born between 1400 and 1410 in Meersburg on Lake Constance and died in Cologne in 1451, probably from the plague. He is often referred to as Master Stefan and is considered one of the main representatives of the Soft Style. In addition, he was one of the first artists to receive the new Dutch painting around Robert Campin and Jan van Eyck.
None of Lochner's works are signed, so the painter remained largely unknown until the 19th century, when interest in medieval Cologne painting revived. The first clue to his identity comes from a note Albrecht Dürer wrote down during his trip to the Netherlands and his stay in Cologne. In it, he mentions having paid two white pennies to see an altarpiece made by a "Master Stefan."
This note prompted researchers to search for a painter named Stefan in medieval Cologne sources, and they found Stefan Lochner. Thus, the "Master Stefan" mentioned in Dürer's note was identified with the prominent painter Stefan Lochner. It was assumed that Dürer had seen the altar of the city patrons, which was in the council chapel at his time, and so the altar Dürer did not name was equated with the altar of the city patrons and the "Master Stefan" mentioned was equated with Stefan Lochner.
Lochner was active in Cologne between 1442 and 1451, but probably lived there before. His family came from Lake Constance, as evidenced by a document from 1451 in which the Cologne Council claimed the inheritance of Lochner's parents in Meersburg on Lake Constance. Therefore, Meersburg is assumed to be his birthplace, although there is no precise evidence of the whereabouts of his parents, Alhete and Georg, at the time of his birth.
Lochner's painting is characterized by flowing robes and lovely faces. He combined the soft style of his time with the novel naturalism of Dutch painting, especially that of Jan van Eyck. His works show influences of the Cologne masters such as the Veronica Master. However, it remains controversial whether the master of the Heisterbach Altarpiece was another artist influenced by Lochner, whether this master was a precursor of Lochner, or whether the Heisterbach Altarpiece is possibly an early work of Lochner.
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