Today we discussed more of the Portinari Altarpiece and the Isenheim Altarpiece. I thought it was super interesting how it took four centuries to decipher the lurking devil in the background of the Portinari altarpiece. Personally, I can really see it, but it is super cool how an art historian found it. Then, we jumped to a northern piece, the Isenheim Altarpiece. Though the northern and southern altarpieces differ structurally, they both are beginning to create more somber, and emotional scenes throughout the Renaissance.
The Isenheim has many scenes depicted in one folding altarpiece, including an inaccurate but provoking image of the crucifixion. Jesus’ skin looked diseased, which could resemble to ergotism outbreak during the time period. The altarpiece was made for diseased people to pray in front of to heal their gangrene. Another figure on the altarpiece was Saint Sebastien who symbolized healing from illness, another way the Isenheim was used for those with ergotism.