Preparation for Death

The Isenheim Altarpiece, painted by Matthias Grunewald, functioned as a visual reminder for patients at a hospital. Its purpose was to remind the sick of what Christ endured. Even though it may seem like they patients themselves are going to die of St. Anthony's disease (acquired by consuming infected bread and resulting in gangrene limbs and other deformations) it could always be worse. This is depicted through the gangrene flesh covered Christ below in the prudella, covered in pus and ready to be entombed. When the altarpiece is opened, Christ's arms and legs appear as if they are coming off - much like those suffering from St. Anthony's disease. 

Matthias Grunewald
Isenheim Altarpiece
1510-1515 
oil on wood


On the interior of the altarpiece, St. Anthony is depicted being tempted by the demons. He is also surrounded by sickly figures, suffering from similar diseases as the hospital patients viewing the altarpiece. Different from today's culture, people that were supposed to view the Isenheim Altarpiece were not at the hospital to heal; they were there in preparation for death. They were supposed to find empathy in these images of the suffering who are enduring much worse physical pain than they are experiencing. 

The exterior of the altarpiece encourages the patients to endure the pain that is clearly lesser than that of Christ's to ultimately witness the resurrection of Christ. The depiction is portrayed as a much more hopeful scene in comparison to the interior. This resurrection was meant to give the hospital patients hope that their pain would pass just as Christ's had.