Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/377

 In Germany. 347 him are ascribed — several fine pictures in the Pinakothek of Munich ; a large altar-piece, his principal work, represent- ing the Life of Christ, in the Johannis Kapelle in Cologne cathedral ; and several easel pictures, the single figures in which are full of life and character, in the various galleries of Germany. The National Gallery contains a 8. Veronica by Wilhelm of Cologne. Stephan Lochner (died 1451), or Meister Stephan, as he is called, said, but perhaps errone- ously, to have been the pupil of Wilhelm, was another and greater master of the same school : by him is the famous altar-piece in the cathedral of Cologne, formerly ascribed to Meister Wilhelm ; it represents the Adoration of the Magi, with 8. Gereon and his Knights and 8. Ursula and her Virgins on the wings, and the Annunciation on the exterior. Israel von Meckenen, who nourished at the end of the century — if all that is said of him be true — must have excelled all his predecessors, some of the best pictures of this time in the Munich Gallery being attributed to him. The Master of the Lijversburg Passion (fl. ab. 1463 — 1480), so-called from a series of eight subjects from the Life of Christ formerly in the possession of Herr Lyvers- berg in Cologne, is represented in our National Gallery by a Presentation in the Temple : this painter has been con- fused with Israel von Meckenen. The Master of Leisborn is also represented in the National Gallery, where are two pieces, figures of Saints, from the high altar-piece which was executed in the Abbey of Liesborn about the middle of the fifteenth century. The works of the early German schools are mostly painted on panel, with gold grounds, and are distinguished for depth of colouring and careful execution of details. Their chief fault is want of accuracy in design ; but this