Konrad Witz

Konrad Witz(1400/1410 probably inRottweil,Germany – winter 1445/spring 1446 inBasel,in current daySwitzerland) was a painter, active mainly in Basel.

Saint Christopherby Konrad Witz (c. 1435), at theKunstmuseum,Basel

Life

In 1434 he entered the painters’ guild in Basel, where he worked most of his life. His 1444 panelThe Miraculous Draft of Fishes(a portion of a lostaltarpiece) has been credited as the earliest extant faithful portrayal of a landscape in European art history, being based on observation of real topographical features.

Witz is most famous for painting three altarpieces, all of which survive only partially. The earliest is theHeilspiegel Altarpieceof about 1435, which today is mostly in theKunstmuseum, Basel,and with isolated panels in other collections. The next is theAltarpiece of the Virgin(c. 1440), which has been associated with panels now in Basel, Nuremberg, and Strasbourg (Saint Madeleine and Saint Catherine,Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame). Witz's final altarpiece is theSt. Peter Altarpieceof 1444, painted forSt. Peter's Cathedral,Geneva,and now in theMusée d'Art et d'Histoire,Geneva, which contains his most famous composition, theMiraculous Draft of Fishes.

The painting ofSt. Christopher(Kunstmuseum, Basel; illustrated) does not seem to be related to these major altarpieces. Other independent works by Witz and his followers can be found in Naples, Berlin, and New York (Frick Collection). TheAmbraser Hofjagdspielis attributed to him.

See also

• The Knights Abisai, Sibbechai and Benaja Bring King David Water,Konrad Witz, 1435, part of theHeilspiegel Altarpiece