T
,dated to around 1515 and part of a retable of
unknown provenance in Ulm, has been attributed to Martin
Schaffner (1477/78–1546/49), an artist active in Ulm and the duchy
of Swabia (Fig. 1). Its composition, reminiscent of an engraving by Martin
Schongauer (ca. 1430–91), could be a model for other Swabian reliefs of
the Annunciation of the same period (Sprinz 1925).
The relief, on limewood, is 104.8 cm high and 118.1 cm wide.
Mary is represented in front of a tent-shaped baldachin kneeling at her
pray er stand; she is holding her cloak with her right hand, and her left is
resting on her open prayer book. Mary’s eyes are cast down pensively.
Gabriel has appeared on her left; he is holding a scepter in his left hand,
which also lifts the curtain to open the baldachin. In the center of the
background is a vase with lilies (Eckhardt 1982).359Frédéric J. M. Lebas
The Cradling of a Relief of the Annunciation
Attributed to Martin Schaffner
Figure 1
Martin Schaffner (attrib.), Annunciation,
ca. 1515, before restoration. Relief on panel,
104.8 3 118.1 cm. Ulm, Germany.