About the Image:
Between 1950 and 1981, the Städel succeeded in reuniting the parts of Elsheimer’s greatest work, which was documented but presumed lost. The modern frame of this domestic altarpiece was reconstructed after sketches made in 1612. While the central panel shows the exaltation of the Cross, the six scenes around it recount the legend of the finding of the Cross by St Helena and its later return to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius. With their striking compositions and dramatic lighting, the panels represent special highlights of Elsheimer’s late period.
Elsheimer, A. (2023, December 10). The Altarpiece of the Holy Cross. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from Digital Collection website: https://sammlung.staedelmuseum.de/en/work/the-altarpiece-of-the-holy-cross
