Named after a parish church

Thus, for a group of altarpieces, to which these six belong, many names were brought into play — in the meantime, some of the supposed artists have turned out to be fictitious. In spite of all the extensive searches for names, not least when a large exhibition was mounted in Stuttgart in 2017 at which the Karlsruhe Panels were on display with their related works, our Master has remained anonymous. As a makeshift solution, one names him — like so many others — after his work or after his main place of activity. For most of the works attributed to this artist come from the parish church of Meßkirch near Sigmaringen.

The ingenious Mr. No Name

The fact that since his “emergency baptism” as Master of Meßkirch in 1885 by Robert Vischer, it has not been possible to give the artist his proper name is astonishing, especially in view of the large number of works that are thought to be in his hand — over 80 panels. No written commission dating from the first half of the 16th century, no proof of payment, no contemporary inventory has so far been able to provide a clear means of identification. Was the Master of Meßkirch an individual? Or was a family of painters or a studio responsible? For the time being, research has yet to find answers to these questions.

But do we need a name to appreciate the works? Perhaps one can see their astonishing mixture of late medieval and highly modern elements even more sharply, more unbiased, when not looked at through the lens of a name. Make up your own mind!