Paumgartner Altar Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

The Paumgartner Altar is a triptych, meaning it is composed of three panels.
The central panel depicts the Nativity scene. In the foreground, Saint Joseph, wearing a red robe, kneels before the Virgin Mary, who is dressed in a blue gown and is holding the infant Jesus. A group of putti, or cherubic figures, surround the central figures, with some reaching towards Jesus. Behind them, an ox and a donkey are visible in what appears to be a stable within a ruined architectural setting. The background of the central panel features classical arched structures and a distant landscape under a radiant sun. A small angel is depicted in the sky.
The two side panels feature standing figures of knights in armor. The left panel shows a knight holding a banner with a white cross on a red background, a symbol often associated with Saint George or the Knights Hospitaller. He stands next to a depiction of a ram or goat. The right panel shows another knight in similar armor, holding a banner featuring a stag with a crucifix on its antlers. This imagery is often associated with Saint Eustace. These flanking figures are likely portraits of the donors, members of the Paumgartner family, who were wealthy Nuremberg merchants. They are presented as martial saints or patrons, linking their family to Christian virtues and protection.
The subtexts of this painting are rich and multi-layered. The Nativity scene, a central theme in Christian art, signifies the birth of Jesus and the promise of salvation. The donors are depicted as devout participants in this sacred event, aligning themselves with Christs birth and the Christian faith. The inclusion of the two warrior saints, possibly representing specific Paumgartner ancestors or patrons, serves to protect the familys legacy and underscore their piety and status. The elaborate armor and banners suggest wealth and martial prowess, yet they are presented in service to religious devotion. The detailed, almost architectural realism, with its sense of depth and light, reflects the artistic sensibilities of the Northern Renaissance, emphasizing both earthly reality and divine transcendence. The juxtaposition of the sacred Nativity with the worldly figures of the knights and the detailed setting creates a powerful statement about faith, family, and social standing within the context of the era.