The Polyptych of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary

The polyptych originated from the Church of Corpus Christi in Wrocław. The central part of the altar was inspired by the famous work by Wit Stwosz (or Veit Stoss) created for St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków. Similarly as in the Kraków masterpiece, Mary is depicted as a young girl fainting during her prayers. She is surrounded by a group of the Apostles assisting the dying Virgin, handing her a blessed candle, singing psalms and wiping away the tears. Her soul is pictured as a figure of a small girl resting on the arm of Christ – rising above the Apostles in the company of angels. The two preserved wings of the altar are decorated with images of Saints shown in bas-relief: St Catherine of Alexandria, St John the Evangelist, St Barbara and St Mary Magdalene. On the reverse side of the altar wings, on one there are paintings of St Andrew, St John the Evangelist, St James the Minor and St Thomas, while on the other – St Peter, St Paul, St Mathew and St James the Greater.