Bernhard Strigel (1460-1528)
Bernhard Strigel was a German painter who worked during the Gothic-era, Renaissance transition. He was the son of a painter and was a student of the Ulmer school. He mainly painted portraits, many of which were later copied by fellow German artists. However, religious themed compositions were still very popular during his era, and he created many of those as well.
Little is known about the details of Strigel’s life, except that he was often commissioned to paint portraits of wealthy and powerful German families. In an era when most artists were primarily painting religious scenes for churches, Strigel was one of the only German portrait painters in his league. Therefore, a German portrait from this period could have been very likely crafted from Strigels’ hand. One of his most famous sitters was Emperor Maximilian and his family.
Art historians have attributed most of Strigel’s paintings based on an inscription from the Cuspinian Family, who own some of his works in their private collection. Two of his known works are also housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. However, many more could be in existence somewhere in Europe, unknown and otherwise unauthenticated.
It is also known that, like so many other painters of the time, he painted altarpieces for churches in the Ulm region and other towns around Swabia. Perhaps the reason that so few paintings have been one hundred percent identified as being from Strigel is the fact that he worked between the Gothic and Renaissance periods. Therefore, his style was not constant, but ever evolving to meet with the change of times.
Today his work is housed in museums all over Europe and in private collections and perhaps in your own home. Still wondering about a German heirloom portrait in your family’s estate? Contact us…it could be by Bernhard Strigel.
