The newly created central section of the Marian altar in Naumburg Cathedral by Leipzig artist Michael Triegel is part of a colaboration project between the cathedral authorities and Triegel, called ‘Triegel meets Cranach’.

Lucas Cranach the Elder created the three-winged altar in 1519. Now, because of the complementary contemporary design, there is a debate about depriving the cathedral of its world cultural status. 

The building is one of the most important cultural monuments of the High Middle Ages. (Via AFP)

According to DW, ‘Triegel doesn’t shy away from adding personal touches to his paintings.” The artist is depicting his daughter or his wife, ‘part of the artist’s personal way of approaching the greats of Renaissance painting’. 

The german artist is „one of the country’s most important painters of religious art. He gained international attention for a 2010 portrait of then-Pope Benedict XVI”, citing DW.

The project is called ”Triegel meets Cranach” showing a newly created central section of the Marian altar in Naumburg Cathedral.

The painting raised objections from the side of the monument protection authorities. According to DW, the United Cathedral Foundations intended to keep the painting in the church’s ”permanently. Now they want to shorten the initial period to December 4, 2022.”