The Death of The Virgin

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Christ stands proudly with his hand raised high in a blessing, ready to transport his mother's soul and body back to Heaven after her passing. The apostles gathered around are fervently reading prayers at the bedside, as is customary in times of mourning. On the far right, one devoted apostle holds a censer, allowing another to carefully pour fragrant incense from an intricately designed boat into its depths. This beautifully crafted relief panel likely formed a crucial part of the support or frame for an altarpiece, which was typically set up on or behind the altar in a Christian church. The scene depicted here showcases the poignant moment when Christ's mother takes her final breath, lying serenely at the center. Originally, this image would have been surmounted by a majestic scene illustrating the Assumption of the Virgin, capturing the very instant when Christ's mother is borne to Heaven. The figures in this particular relief exhibit striking similarities with those found in another notable depiction of the Death of the Virgin housed in the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe. This Karlsruhe relief is believed to have been crafted in the Upper Rhenish region of Germany circa 1430 to 1440. Another similar relief, also dateable to around 1440, can be found in the chapel of St Nicholas within the Minster, Constance. These strong connections suggest that this relief was likely created in the same Upper Rhenish area as its counterparts.