Title: Trinity with the Virgin

Artist: Peter Hemmel

Title: The Trinity with the Virgin, Saints John the Evangelist, Stephen, and Lawrence, and a Donor Date: 1479 Artist: The Peter Hemmel von Andlau Workshop Artist Details: German, active in Strasbourg, about 1420/25–after 1501 Medium: Oil on panel Description God the Father, enthroned and holding the crucified Christ with the Holy Spirit between them, dominates the composition. Together they represent the Trinity, the central doctrine of the Christian faith, in which all three are united as one. This recently discovered altarpiece was carefully designed for the kneeling donor, a cleric, and expresses his desire for penance. The donor's plea for salvation inscribed on the scroll cleverly incorporates the date "1479" in Roman numerals. Saint Stephen stands protectively over him, bearing the stones of martyrdom on his head. The expressive features, heavy drapery, and radiant palette (especially purple) resemble the sophisticated stained glass windows attributed to Peter Hemmel and the Strasbourg Workshop Cooperative.