Timeline

1496

Hermann Rinck died. The altarpiece was probably painted after his death.

Around 1480-1520

The Master of the Aachen Altarpiece was working as an artist in Cologne. Because his identity is unknown he is referred to by another of his known works, the altarpiece with scenes from the Passion, which was painted around 1510 for the Carmelite church in Cologne and is now in the Cathedral Treasury at Aachen in Germany.

Around 1505

The altarpiece was commissioned for St Kolumba's church.

Around 1810-20

The panels were likely to have been separated, as the altarpiece is thought to have been brought from Flanders| to England at the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

Around 1820s-30s

The centre panel was acquired by a Manchester dealer who sold it on to Joseph Dixon of Newcastle upon Tyne.

1843

First appearance of the wings, in the Liverpool Royal Institute| catalogue. It was likely that they were purchased as a pair in 1842 to be shown in a gallery newly built by LRI for the Roscoe collection.

1847

The centre panel was bought from Mr Dixon's executors by Edward Shipperdson, who presented it to the National Gallery, London.

1948

The Liverpool Royal Institute presented the wings to the Walker Art Gallery along with the rest of the LRI's collections.

1962

Conservation of central panel.

1963

Discovery of images on the back of the winged panels|.

2000

Entire triptych moved to National Gallery, London, during the refurbishment of the Walker Art Gallery.

2001

Triptych returned to the Walker in time for its reopening.

 

Exhibition History

1857

Manchester 'Art Treasures' Exhibition, Nos. 405-6.

1868

Leeds 'National Exhibition', No. 512a (1225).

1881

Royal Academy, London, 'Winter Exhibition of Works by the Old Masters', Nos. 228 and 23.

1899

New Gallery, London, 'Winter Exhibition', Nos. 19 and 248.

1957

Exhibition of European Masters at Manchester Art Gallery, for anniversary of 1857 exhibition.

1961

The altarpiece was lent to the Cologne Exhibition at Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Nos. 40b and 40c.