The town of Levoča is the place richest for cultural monuments from the late gothic period in Slovakia.

The main altar in the St. Jacob's church in Levoča - a monumental work of late gothic period - originated from synthesis of architecture, ornamental sculpture, painting and decorative art. It is the top work of Master Paul of Levoča, who has sculpted the dominant wooden plastics on this altar.

The altar door leafs are decorated with paintings - 8 paintings on wooden tables with scenes from the Jesus Christ passions. The wooden tables are fitted on swivel door leafs from outside, therefore the picture are visible only if the altar is closed. The unknown author of the passion cycle scenes has worked according to the graphical templates, which was then a usual practice. As the templates for majority of these table paintings have served the graphical sheets of Lucas Cranach with the passion theme from the year 1509 (Christ on Olive Hill, Whipping, Coronation, Ecce Homo, Christ in front of Pilatus, Carrying the cross). Other paintings have originated as copies of some pictures from the Schaufelein series of graphic sheets (Crucifixion and Resurrection), but even these paintings show the influence of Cranach's style. Some researches have pointed at paintings of Albrecht Altdorfer as possible graphic template, as well as on possible relation between Hans von Kulmbach, who worked in Cracovia and the unknown painter, as well as on possible links to some similar works painted by medieval artists in the region Spiš (Zips) in Slovakia.

Antónia Paulinyová