Preferred treasure: Memling Altar
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The St. Anne's Museum in Lübeck, Germany, is home to a remarkable masterpiece: the Memling Altar. This exquisite work of art, often referred to as the "Mona Lisa of Lübeck," is a favourite of museum director Dr. Dagmar Taube.
The Memling Altar, created by the Dutch master Hans Memling, features four patron saints on its Sundays' sides. On the weekdays, it showcases a contest of the arts, according to art historians. The inside pages of the altar depict all the stations of the Passion, creating a finely crafted program that captivates visitors.
Elements of the Memling Altar, such as a jug with lilies, are designed to create a play with reality and opposites, which fascinates Dr. Taube. The painterly mastery of Memling is fully showcased on the inside pages of the altar, with its richness in realistic details and integration into the architecture.
The Memling Altar is staged in its own room for visitors to have a private viewing. The structure of the altar is likened to a three-act play, adding to its dramatic allure. On high holidays, the inside pages of the altar are described as the dramatic climax of the staging.
Dr. Taube has been the director of several museums in Lübeck since October 2016. She believes that saints were models in life, oriented towards the hereafter. The Memling Altar, with its focus on the Passion, embodies this belief.
Visitors can find the St. Anne's Museum at St.-Annen-Straße 15, 23552 Lübeck. The museum can also be located on Google Maps and Facebook under the name St.AnnenMuseum. For more information, visit the museum's website at st-annen-museum.de. The museum's Instagram handle is st.annenmuseum.
While the specific reasons for Dr. Taube's fondness for the Memling Altar are not explicitly stated, it is well known that the altar is a significant and highly valued work of art from the Northern Renaissance, admired for its detailed craftsmanship and historical importance. Its status as a highly significant Renaissance altar by Hans Memling, showcasing exceptional artistry, naturally makes it a centrepiece of the museum collection.
The replica of the Memling Altar in a visitor's home could enhance their lifestyle, emulating the grandeur of the original piece. Additionally, a focus on home-and-garden projects, such as creating a garden inspired by the flora depicted in the altar, could mirror Dr. Taube's appreciation for opposites and reality play in the art.
