Tilman Riemenschneider

The Würzburg sculptor and woodcarver Tilman Riemenschneider (c.1460-1531) worked within established formal traditions, yet succeeded in creating works of a kind that had never been seen before. Against common practice, he left many of his sculptures unpainted. This turned them from life-like images of saints into works of art far removed from the everyday world of the beholder. To see the intricate, supremely carved details of Riemenschneider’s sculptures, the play of light and shade on their glazed wooden surfaces, and the moving expressions of the figures’ faces and gestures, is as fascinating today as it must have been when they were created. With the help of 225 black and white and 55 colour illustrations, both of complete works and of details, this book gives a representative survey of the sculptures made by Riemenschneider and his workshop. The author is one of the internationally known experts on Riemenschneider.