Origins & Early Life

Tilman Riemenschneider (c. 1460 – 7 July 1531) was a German woodcarver and sculptor active in Würzburg from 1483. A master in limewood and stone, he was one of the most prolific and versatile sculptors of the transition period between the Late Gothic, to which he essentially belonged, and Northern Renaissance art. He was also a local politician in the council of Würzburg.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Most of his subjects are religious, including several very large and spectacular carved wood altarpieces, as well as tombs in stone, and statues. He was largely forgotten soon after his death, but rediscovered by art historians in the 19th century. Tilman Riemenschneider was born around the year 1460 at Heiligenstadt im Eichsfeld in present-day Thuringia. When Riemenschneider was about five years old, his father was involved in a violent political conflict, the Mainzer Stiftsfehde, so the family had to leave Heiligenstadt and all their possessions. They resettled in Osterode, where his father became Master of the Mint (a good position at that time) and where Riemenschneider spent his childhood years.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Riemenschneider likely came to Würzburg for the first time at the age of 18 in 1478/79. His uncle...

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