Epitaph der Schwestern Walther: Speisung der Fünftausend
Historical Context
Hans Holbein the Elder painted this Feeding of the Five Thousand as part of the Walther Sisters Epitaph in 1502. The miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes was one of the most popular New Testament narratives. Holbein's treatment demonstrates his command of crowd scenes and landscape settings. The tempera medium required careful preparation on a gessoed panel and a disciplined layering technique that produced precise, durable surfaces suited to the intricate detail expected of devotional painting.
Technical Analysis
Oil on panel with careful staging of the miracle scene in a spacious landscape. Holbein's ability to organize large figure groups while maintaining individual characterization is evident in the crowd's varied reactions.
