The Raising of the Cross [center, left, and right panels]

The Raising of the Cross by the Master of the Starck Triptych, painted around 1480-90, is a dramatic Passion scene by an anonymous Cologne painter. The triptych format was standard for Northern European altarpieces, with the central Crucifixion scene flanked by subsidiary panels. The Cologne school of painting, distinguished by its sweet, lyrical style and rich coloring, was one of the most important regional schools in late medieval Germany.

The oil-on-panel triptych demonstrates the Cologne school's characteristic combination of emotional intensity with decorative richness. The jewel-like colors and carefully rendered details of the multi-figure composition reflect the refined craftsmanship of late Gothic Cologne painting.