Wettenhauser Hochaltar: Tod Mariae Rückseite: Abschied Christi (rechte Hälfte) mit Stifter Ulrich Hieber

Martin Schaffner's treatment of this sacred subject in 1523 exemplifies the enduring importance of religious painting in the High Renaissance. Martin Schaffner brings distinctive artistic vision to the sacred narrative, creating a work that served both devotional and artistic purposes in sixteenth-century German culture. The High Renaissance period saw the full flowering of Venetian colorism alongside Roman disegno, creating two complementary traditions that would shape European painting for generations.

Martin Schaffner employs skilled technique and careful observation to convey the spiritual gravity of the subject. The treatment of the figures shows careful study of earlier masters, while the palette and lighting create the devotional atmosphere the subject demands.