The 'Znaim Altarpiece'

In the Late Gothic period, large-scale altarpieces usually had a very deep central shrine containing figures carved in the round. By contrast, the center of the Znaim Altarpiece is a relief representing a multifigured Crucifixion scene. At that time, narrative depictions of this kind are to be found more frequently in paintings, such as Conrad Laib’s Salzburg Crucifixion of 1449. The three-dimensional quality of the Znaim Altarpiece heightens the sense of realism and immediacy. This effect is further emphasized by the well-preserved polychromy.