Portrait 1500s - Nikolaus of Haguenau

Nikolaus of Haguenau, or really Nikolaus Hagenauer, was a German late gothic sculptor from Hagenau (Alsace in the Holy Roman Empire, present day France). He was most likely born as Niklas Zimmerlin, but was also documented and signed works as Niclas Hagenauer, Niklaus Hagenauer, Niclas Hagnower, Niklaus Hagnower, Niclas von Hagenau and other variants. 1445-1538. In 1505 he carved the figures for the altarpiece (Colmar, Musée d'Unterlinden) in the Anthonite church at Isenheim, Alsace, for which Matthias Grünewald painted the wings some ten years later. To a certain degree Haguenauer continued the style of Nicolaus Gerhaert, but the faces of his figures show his penetrating powers of observation and his skill in expressing intellectual and psychological content.