Bernhard Strigel (1460-61-1528) – Schussenrieder altar, outside Part 1

The composition presents a divided scene, suggesting it is part of a larger altarpiece or polyptych. The left panel depicts two figures engaged in what appears to be a formal exchange. A young woman, dressed in dark green and black attire, stands facing an older woman clad in a vibrant red garment with a white headdress. Their gestures – the younger woman’s extended hand and the older womans receptive posture – imply a transfer or bestowal of some kind. The background reveals a landscape receding into distance; a town is visible on the horizon alongside a river, suggesting a setting that blends natural and human elements. A scroll lies partially obscured at the base of this panel, its inscription likely containing textual information relevant to the scenes narrative.
The right panel shifts focus to a group gathered around what seems to be a central figure. This individual, positioned slightly above the others, is dressed in flowing robes and surrounded by attendants or followers. A man with a book stands nearby, possibly indicating a scholarly or religious context. The expressions on the faces of those present range from reverence to attentive listening. The older woman seen on the left panel also appears here, standing beside a bearded man who seems to be interacting with her.
Color plays a significant role in differentiating the two scenes. The red of the older woman’s garment acts as a visual link between the panels, drawing attention across the division and suggesting a connection between the events depicted. The overall palette is earthy, dominated by greens, browns, and reds, which contribute to a sense of solemnity and gravity.
Subtleties in detail offer further layers of interpretation. The landscape background on the left panel, with its carefully rendered buildings and vegetation, suggests an idealized view of human settlement within a natural environment. The presence of the scroll hints at a written record or legal document underpinning the interaction between the two women. The arrangement of figures on the right panel – the central figure elevated above the others – implies authority or divine status.
Taken together, these elements suggest a narrative involving inheritance, religious devotion, and perhaps a formal transfer of responsibility or power. The division of the scene implies that it is part of a larger story, with each panel contributing to a more complex understanding of the events unfolding.