Török Gyöngyi: Gothic Panel Paintings and Wood Carvings in Hungary, Permanent exhibition of the Hungarian National Gallery (A Magyar Nemzeti Galéria kiadványai 2005/3)

First Floor - Throne-room

31. Altarpiece of the Virgin Mary from the church of St. Andrew in Nagyszülők, 1483 holidays could the congregation see the shrines richly embellished with wood carvings and the insicles ol the luxuriously gilded wings. Most lath century altarpieces contained relics. The typological confrontation of Old and New Testament scenes was prevalent in that age, but the Old Testament themes had almost completely disappeared from the program by the 15th century. In addition to two New Testament themes - Christ's Passion and the life of the Virgin - the stories of the apostles and. more emphatically still, the saints came into prominence. In choosing the saints, the patron saints of the church, the donor and the titular saint of the altarpiece enjoyed priority. In addition were the saints venerated in the church, town or diocese; thus the local characteristics could be brought to bear more markedly. Scenes from the Virgin's life are shown on the altarpiece of the Annunciation from Kisszeben and the high altar of the Virgin Mary from Csíkmenaság. A good example of the detailed presentation of a saint's legend is the St Martin altarpiece from Cserény with several scenes of his life, or St Andrew's altarpiece dedicated to the apostle from Liptószentandrás. The images of various saints, individually or in groups, can be seen in the altarpiece of the Virgin and that of St Andrew from Liptószentandrás, on the altar of the Two Female Saints from Leibic, the