Master Francke Paintings

Master Francke, also known as Frater Francke or Frater Franciscus, was a North German Gothic painter and Dominican friar whose works significantly contributed to the Northern European painting tradition around the early 15th century. While his exact birth and death dates are not firmly established, it is believed that he was born around 1380 and died circa 1440.

Master Francke is primarily known for his religious works, which were characterized by dramatic expressiveness and a vivid narrative style. He is believed to have been active in Hamburg, and his works reflect an influence of the International Gothic style, which combined Gothic forms with more courtly and elegant elements typical of late medieval art.

One of his most notable works is the Altarpiece of the High Altar of the Dominican Church in Hamburg, also known as the St. Thomas Altarpiece, which is now housed in the Kunsthalle Hamburg. This piece is particularly significant for its detailed depiction of scenes from the life of St. Thomas Aquinas. Francke's paintings often featured intense emotional expressions and a strong use of line, which were hallmarks of the Gothic tradition, yet they also incorporated the emerging naturalistic tendencies of the early Renaissance.

Master Francke's influence extended beyond Hamburg, as his works were disseminated through the Hanseatic League's trade networks. Despite the scarcity of information on his life and the limited number of surviving works definitively attributed to him, Master Francke is recognized for his role in the evolution of northern European painting, bridging the gap between the medieval and the early modern periods. His legacy is reflected in his ability to convey complex religious narratives with both emotional depth and iconographic clarity.