---
title: Isenheim Altarpiece
author: Vincent Desjardins
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12397/isenheim-altarpiece/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Isenheim Altarpiece
_Authored by Vincent Desjardins_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/12397.jpg)
## Image Caption
The Isenheim Altarpiece is an altarpiece sculpted and painted by, respectively, the Germans Nikolaus of Haguenau and Matthias Grünewald in 1512–1516 CE. It is on display at the Unterlinden Museum at Colmar, Alsace, in France. It is Grünewald's largest work, and is regarded as his masterpiece. It was painted for the Monastery of St. Anthony in Isenheim near Colmar, which specialized in hospital work. The Antonine monks of the monastery were noted for their care of [plague](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/plague/) sufferers as well as their treatment of skin diseases, such as ergotism. The image of the crucified Christ is pitted with plague-type sores, showing patients that [Jesus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Jesus_Christ/) understood and shared their afflictions. The veracity of the work's depictions of medical conditions was unusual in the history of European art.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Desjardins, V. (2020, July 08). Isenheim Altarpiece. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Desjardins, Vincent. "Isenheim Altarpiece." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 08, 2020. .
### MLA
Desjardins, Vincent. "Isenheim Altarpiece." *World History Encyclopedia*, 08 Jul 2020, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chapel_of_Unterlinden_Museum_with_Isenheim_altarpiece.jpg) by [**Vincent Desjardins**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chapel_of_Unterlinden_Museum_with_Isenheim_altarpiece.jpg). Submitted by [John Horgan](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jhorgan/ "User Page: John Horgan"), published on 08 July 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0deed.en). This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.