Matthias Grunewald: The Sanctity of Suffering Video (DVD)

Unlike with many of the great artists of the ages, there are major gaps in what is know about the life of Matthias Grunewald. No one knows his birthday, and for many years even the correct spelling of his name had been obscured. His best-known work was long attributed to a different artist. However, the painter of the Isenheim Altarpiece is revered as one of the best works of the Northern Renaissance. Now that he is recognized as the true artist behind his masterpiece, art historians have worked to learn more about him and discover what was behind his expressive work. The piece was created to grace the wall of a hospital that was treating burn patients, and it has endured for centuries as a work of beauty. In this 34-minute film, learn more about the piece and the man behind it.