Paumgartner Altarpiece (center panel - The Nativity, wings - St. George, St. Eustace) 1503

Albrecht Dürer's "Paumgartner Altarpiece" (1503) is a triptych showcasing the artist's mastery of Northern Renaissance detail. The central panel depicts the Nativity, with Joseph kneeling before the Virgin Mary and the Christ child, surrounded by a chorus of angels. Dürer's meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the architecture and figures, gives the scene a sense of realism. The side panels, featuring St. George and St. Eustace, represent the patron saint of the altarpiece, Jakob Paumgartner. These figures, in full armor, showcase Dürer's skill in depicting contemporary dress and weaponry. This altarpiece is housed in the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich, Germany, and is a significant example of Dürer's early work.