Standing Bishop in the Cloisters, Sept. 2007

Standing Bishop
Lindenwood and polychromy
Workshop of Tilman Riemenschneider (1460-1531)
Germany, Lower Franconia Wurzburg, ca. 1505

Accession # 1975.25

Although this bishop has no attributes, the gesture of the right hand suggests that he might be Saint Valentine, who is usually shown pointing to an epileptic child whom, according to legend, he cured. The treatment of the facial features and the drapery folds is dependent on the work of Tilman Riemenschneider but lacks that master's exhuberant line and overall coherency.

Text from the Cloisters label.