Christ
and Saint John Group by Master Heinrich of Constance, early 14th century
Life-size
group (141 cm in height) in gilded and polychrome walnut. This is one
of the oldest and most impressive representations of a central theme
of the medieval mysticism that flourished in the monasteries. For a
soul who aspires to oneness with Christ, the young privileged disciple
resting at Jesus' chest is the supreme model and the patron saint that
will be worshipped above all other saints.
This work originally comes from the former Dominican nuns' convent of
Sankt Katharinenthal (near Diessenhofen on the Rhine in Switzerland).
It is considered the perfect illustration of the spiritual love between
God and man, which was the core of religious beliefs in the High Gothic
age.