The Holy Kindred

These reliefs were part of a small domestic altar and represent the Holy Kindred. They refer to the legend of the triple marriage of Saint Anne, and her three daughters by her three husbands. Saint Anne sits in the centre, with the Virgin and Christ Child, and behind them are her husbands (Joachim, Cleophas, and Salomas) and Saint Joseph. The side groups depict Mary Salome and May Cleophas with their husbands and children.

This work was associated to the Master of Ottobeuren, named after the reliefs in the abbey of Ottobeuren, later identified with the sculptor Hans Thoman, active in Memmingen, Swabia in the early decades of the sixteenth century. In 1502-5 he worked in the workshop of Hans Herlin, whose influence can be seen in the present group.