Saints Catherine, Elizabeth of Hungary, Johanna, and Gertrude of Helfta
Acquired by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), New York.
Sch: Maria Catharina sch: M. Elizabet. sch: / M. Johanna · sch: M: Ge[ .]trut · Gesa = / mptes Convendt · zu Weppach · / hāb: die schiben mahlen lasen / Anno: 167[.] WSP Constanz (Sister Maria Catherine, Sister Elizabeth, Sister Joanna, [and] Sister Gertrude from the convent of Weppach had this panel made in the year 167(?); Wolfgang Spengler of Constance.
The circular panel displays four female saints who stand against a distant cityscape with towers. St. Catherine to the left, wears a long red dress. With her wheel behind her, she carries a palm of resurrection in her left hand and the sword of her martyrdom in her right. St. Elizabeth of Hungary, dressed as a Franciscan Tertiary, wears a crown and holds a book and rosary beads. She gives alms to a man who kneels at her side holding a begging bowl. St. Joanna, who holds a cross, is also dressed as a nun. To the far right, also dressed as a nun, is Gertrude of Helfta. On the upper left, the dove of the Holy Spirit framed in a golden aureole appears in a radiant blue cloud. The lower quarter of the circle carried the dedicatory inscription. In the band between the image and dedication one can read the date and the signature.