The Master: A Sculptor and Architect in the Europe of the Cathedrals

Naumburg Cathedral is world famous above all because of the work of the Naumburg Master, an anonymous architect and stone sculptor. Inspired by Northern French Gothic cathedral ar- chitecture, he created the west chancel screen in as well as other works of which only few remnants have survived however. In the mid 13th century, the Master arrived in Naumburg where he was responsible for the planning, decoration and execution of the west choir. The work on the west choir was commis- sioned by Dietrich II, the bishop then in office.

The Naumburg Master¶s adept fusion of architecture, sculpture and stained glass in the west choir of is unique. This stone sFXOSWRU¶V works in Naumburg Cathedral, whence the Master¶s name is also derived, can rightfully be called his magnum opus. Their incomparable realism and expressiveness make the reliefs of the Passion of Christ at the west chancel screen and the twelve life-sized statues of benefactors (the statue of the benefactor Uta of Naumburg being the most famous) particularly fascinating.

Consensus largely exists among scholars that concrete points for the Naumburg Master¶VEe- ginnings as an architect and sculptor are discernible at the new cathedral in Reims on which construction began in 1211. This edifice is distinguished by its treasure trove of sculpture, of- ten innovatively incorporated with the architecture. In and of itself, the gallery in front of the windows, a characteristic architectural motif of the west choir in Naumburg, points to the close relationship with Reims Cathedral. Numerous links, especially the Naumburg Master¶V sculp- tural creations and their underlying compositional ideas, are observable in the area of the choir and transept ± from the architectonic context¶V intensification of the appearance of figures through increased facial expressiveness tending toward individualization.

The sites of the Naumburg Master¶VDFWLYLW\ are considered to be:

‡ Reims Cathedral ‡Noyon Cathedral ‡Château de Coucy ‡Mainz Cathedral ‡Templar Chapel of Iben ‡ Cathedral ‡Naumburg Cathedral ‡Meissen Cathedral

Press release from March 25, 2009