Retable from the church
in Moszczenica Niżna near Stary Sącz
Author: Author unknown
Date of creation: around 1480
Dimensions: height: 255 cm, width: 190 cm
Technique: tempera painting on wooden panels
A retable is a decorative element placed on an altar table. This retable has the form of a triptych, or a three-part panel painting. The middle panel is the main and largest one. On the left and right sides, there are hinged wings with paintings. The wings can be closed or opened, depending on the needs of the liturgy. Under the middle part and the wings, there is a horizontal panel with a painting, the so-called predella. Above the middle part, there is the finial’s painting. Its upper edge forms the so-called ogee arch. The edge is decorated with carved leaves and small posts. The work is placed in the museum on a wooden pedestal.
The middle panel shows Saint Mary Magdalene surrounded by angels. Her body is covered by thick long orange hair. The angels hold a crown above her head. The right wing of the open triptych depicts a grey-haired and bearded Saint Nicholas. He wears a tall bishop’s hat, or mitre, a red cloak, and a crosier, or pastoral staff. The inside panel of the left wing shows a painting of Saint Florian as a young man with a smooth face and long light hair. He wears knight’s armour and a red cloak. He leans on a spear, holding a red shield with a painted cross. The outside of the right wing contains a painting of Our Lady of Sorrows, and the left one – Man of Sorrows.
On the predella, two angels spread a veil with the image of Christ’s head in a crown of thorns. The finial shows Michael the Archangel with a raised sword in his right hand and scales in his left.
Saint Mary Magdalene is shown as a slim young woman with a round face. She kneels in front of the viewer with her head tilted towards her right shoulder. Her orange hair curls down to her ankles. It gives the impression of hair growing on the woman’s skin. At the neck and ankles, it stands out with a clear edge against the light pink skin. Her knees are not covered with hair either. The saint folds her slender-fingered hands in prayer. The seven angels surrounding Mary Magdalene are fair-haired young men in long white robes. Their large wings shimmer with green, red, and yellow. Two angels floating by the saint’s head hold a crown above it. Another two angels below hold a transparent fabric covering the woman’s loins. Below them are two more angels supporting her legs. The angel by the right leg holds the knee, and the angel by the left leg holds the left knee and foot. The back of the seventh angel forms a kneeler for the saint. He lies at the bottom, with his head turned to our left. The ground is a green meadow covered with flowers with delicate white calyxes. The background of the main panel and wings is gold.
