DÜRER, Albrecht: Paumgartner Altar

Paumgartner Altar Albrecht Dürer created this magnificent altarpiece for a wealthy Augsburg merchant family, showcasing the Northern Renaissance master's ability to blend Flemish precision with Italian compositional ideals. The triptych features the Nativity at its center, flanked by panels depicting Saint George and Saint Stephen as the family's patron saints—a common way for Renaissance patrons to insert themselves into sacred narratives. Completed in 1503, the work exemplifies Dürer's meticulous attention to detail and sophisticated use of light and color, establishing him as one of the most innovative painters north of the Alps.