SCHONGAUER Martin (School)

(Colmar- Breisach late 16th century)

Martin Schongauer was born in Colmar in 1448 ca. and died in Breisach am Rhein in February 1491. Son of a goldsmith, he was a painter and engraver. Unfortunately, there is no news about his artistic training. He is considered the most skillful copper engraver of the first German school.
Through his travels in Holland and Burgundy he got to know the works of Rogier Van der Weyden and Jan Van Eyck who deeply influenced his artistic expression.
Back in Colmar, he opened his own workshop in which he worked all his life. The few remaining pictorial works, all of high quality, are mainly preserved in churches and museums in Germany. His production of prints of exquisite refinement has been richer and more known and sold not only in Germany, but also in Italy, Holland and England.
Giorgio Vasari wrote that Michelangelo copied from this author the print of the ‘Temptation of Saint Anthony’ for his painting now preserved in the Museum of Fort Worth in Texas; in fact, the similarity between the two works leaves no doubt.
In addition to Michelangelo, the art of Schongauer influenced Albrecht Dürer too. This latter, in order to meet the great master he truly admired, went to Colmar, but when he actually arrived he knew that Schongauer was already dead.
About 130 engravings produced by Schongauer are known, plus other 100 produced by his workshop show his monogram M+S.