The Naumburg Master

One of the most famous unknowns of the Middle Ages and his work in Naumburg Cathedral

By State Chancellery and Ministry of Culture of Sachsen-Anhalt

State Chancellery and Ministry of Culture of Sachsen-Anhalt

West choir, altar (13th century) by Naumburg MasterOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

The earliest traces of the Naumburg Master lead to France, where he probably spent his apprenticeship years in the 1220s at the construction sites of the new Gothic cathedrals. Independent works could be identified in Coucy, Metz and Noyon, among others. From Mainz, his path led him to Naumburg, where he and his work crew erected the west choir and the west rood screen in the comparatively short time of perhaps only seven years, creating one of the most fascinating architectural and sculptural programs of the Gothic period.

The Naumburg master's signature is characterized by technically brilliant solutions in the combination of functional architecture and sculpture, as well as an unusually high demand for closeness to nature in the depiction of plants and figures for the Middle Ages. The precise study of nature for the production of the numerous plant capitals and the individual, even portrait-like design of the donor figures appear like an early prologue to the Renaissance, which took hold in Germany over 250 years later.

West choir, glass painting on the tracery windows (13th century) by glass workshop under the direct influence of the Naumburg MasterOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

Due to stylistic parallels and the correspondence of identifiable stonemason's marks, the Naumburg workshop could be proven after Naumburg still in Meissen and even in the Spanish Burgos. Since July 2018, Naumburg Cathedral with the work of the Naumburg Master has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

West choir, Elisabeth window (13th century) by glass workshop under the direct influence of the Naumburg MasterOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

The west fountain, whose large elaborate portal is the only access to the west choir, was built after the latter was completed. Although from a formal point of view it is only a wall, its architecture captivates with an ingenious construction plan and a remarkable depth and richness of articulation. While the plane of the portal proper is occupied by a Crucifixion scene, in the pediment above it, in a large quatrefoil, there is a painting of a so-called Majestas Domini, in which Christ is depicted seated on a throne as the Judge of the World on the Last Day. The eastern side of the rood screen is decorated with a relief of the Passion.

The various scenes were each carved out of a large block of shell limestone over 30 centimeters deep and painted in several colors. The artistic design of the iconography of the Naumburg Westlettner is unique in this form. The disposition and direction of action of the figures are oriented entirely towards the view from below, i.e. the viewer in the nave. The now reconstructed 13th century colored version, of which considerable remains have been preserved, accentuated the sometimes expressive sculptural elaboration of the individual figures. However, not only the figures themselves were painted, but also the frame architecture and the numerous plant capitals. The latter show an astonishing variety of more than 30 botanically precisely identifiable species in partly different growth phases.

Western rood screen, cross bearing (18th century) by unknownOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

The highlight of the 'Westlettner's' iconographic program is the crucifixion scene, which also completes the Passion of Christ. For the architectural integration of the crucifixion into the portal of the Westlettner, the Naumburg Master found both technologically and artistically a unique solution in this form for the medieval Gothic. Usually, the Crucifixion was presented in the form of a clearly elevated triumphal cross group on or above the rood screen. In Naumburg, however, it is deliberately lowered to such a "realistic" height that anyone who wanted to pass through the portal to the west choir would inevitably have to witness Christ's sacrificial death beforehand, in an unusually close and natural view.

Western rood screen, flagellation (18th century) by unknownOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

Mary, the mother of God, and John, the favorite disciple, who witness the crucifixion, also address the approaching viewer with their faces contorted in pain and their body language marked by grief, wanting to direct him with expressive force to the sacrificial death of the Savior that is about to occur. Christ himself is captured at the moment of his death, his eyes just a little open, while above him the two angels waving incense already point to the imminent miracle of the resurrection and ascension.

The dramatic scene, originally heightened in its expressiveness by a splendid use of color, must have deeply shaken the people of the 13th century emotionally and in their religious experience. For Christ no longer appears here as a raptured or at least distant redeemer, but still entirely as a sacrificed Son of Man. Especially in the depiction of the crucified with its accentuated pleasing body proportions, the pleasure in the study of nature, so unexpected for the High Middle Ages, once again becomes apparent, which distinguishes the Naumburg Master and his workshop as unique.

West choir, canopy (20th century) by unknownOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

The west choir of Naumburg Cathedral is the most important architectural creation of the early Gothic period in central Germany. At the same time, with the west choir, the Naumburg Master succeeded in completing the new construction of the cathedral in the short time of perhaps only seven years until 1249.

West choir, altar (13th century) by Naumburg MasterOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

The sacred space, which has its own altar, was built from local Freyburg shell limestone and measures 25 × 15 meters. The load of the soaring ribbed vault is transferred to the outside by six buttresses, where they end in pinnacles from which emerge impressive gargoyles in the shape of nuns, lions, deer, dogs, bulls and monks, which are still in use today.

Western rood screen, capitals (around 1250) by Naumburg MasterOriginal Source: https://www.vereinigte-domstifter.de/de/uebersicht/

Similar to the west fountain, which was added a short time later, the west choir contains numerous high-quality plant capitals, unusually close to nature for the 13th century, which are concentrated in the area of the dorsal in the choir quadrum. The large quadrum, which is separated from the elevated polygon by four steps, already served to accommodate a large choir stall at the time of its construction. The present pews date from the 16th to the 19th century. Between the columns below the canopy zone, which was renewed in the 19th century, there are slabs of noble Wechselburg sheaf slate on the wall, named after the conspicuous inclusions in the stone.

West choir, keystone (13th century) by Naumburg MasterOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

The quadrum is adjoined to the west by a 5/8 polygon, thus consisting of five sides of an assumed octagon. As a consequence of this ground plan, the west choir has five large traceried windows, three of which still have the original stained glass from the period. The quadrum and polygon are surrounded by a raised walkway, which is connected to the cycle of the twelve Naumburg founder figures. The latter are not only the artistic highlight of Naumburg Cathedral. Rather, they are considered one of the outstanding sculptural creations of the European Gothic period.

West choir, celestial hole (13th century) by Naumburg MasterOriginal Source: Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

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