1524

Saints Catherine of Alexandria and Barbara

German (active Augsburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Fribourg, Switzerland), born c. 1480, active 1502 - 1537

These two paintings were originally the folding wings of an altarpiece (dismantled in 1836) made for a church in Ependes (canton of Fribourg), Switzerland. They would have been visible when the altarpiece was closed. When open, the backs of these panels displayed wooden relief sculptures by Hans Gieng (Swiss, active Fribourg by 1524–died 1562/63). While the central interior shrine, which most likely also consisted of sculpted figures, is lost, the scenes formerly attached to the reverse of these panels—showing the martyrdom of each of these saints—have survived and are now in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Inscribed: On Catherine’s sword: Z (Wilhelm Ziegler) On Barbara’s tower: 1524/HG (Hans Gieng) above a chisel/Z (Wilhelm Ziegler) On the reverse of the Catherine panel (translated): Peter Baumgarter and Hans Moron, donors of the Confraternity of Saint Catherine, on whom God has mercy On the reverse of the Barbara panel (translated): Lord, almighty God, you show your mercy to us all by the merit and martyrdom of Saints Catherine and Barbara