I'm leaving, but where to?
Fall of Paul on the Road to Damascus
Gerhard Gröninger (design and sculptural work, painted finish of the reliefs)
1619–1622
Hardwood, painted
Münster, St.-Paulus-Dom, Inv.-Nr. Do.Al.2
This altar wing is normally located in the cathedral. It is part of the former high altar. Shown here is the left, inner wing. What makes it special is the almost comic-like narrative style. In the foreground lies the blinded Paul. In the middle and background, one can see among other things the road to Damascus, the baptism, and Paul's escape from the city.
Inscription on the lightning bolt: SAULE, SAULE, QUID ME PERSEQUERIS (Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?)
and on the scroll: D[omi]NE QUID VIS ME FACERE [Lord, what
do you want me to do?]
This altar wing is normally housed in the cathedral. It is part of the former high altar; the left inner wing is shown here. A distinctive feature is the almost comic-strip-like narrative style. In the foreground lies the blinded Paul. In the middle and background, one can see—among other things—the road to Damascus, the baptism, and Paul’s escape from the city.
In 1619, the Münster-based artist Gerhard Gröninger was commissioned by the Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral to create the overall design for the high altar. Numerous other craftsmen assisted him with carpentry and woodturning. Initially, the intention was to secure Peter Paul Rubens for the painted panels; however, as his quote was too high, the commission went to the Amsterdam painter Adriaen van den Bogart.
During the Second World War, the altar wings were safely placed in storage. The altar has been located in the west choir since 1957.
The altar wings consist of a polychrome relief carving of monumental proportions. The gold finish of the relief harmonizes with the ornamentation of the frame, alluding to the treasure that was once permanently concealed behind the altar wings. Indeed, the altar was originally designed to house parts of the reliquary and cathedral treasury of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The central altar structure (retable) is made of black and dark red marble. This color scheme, specified by Gröninger, contrasts strikingly with the cathedral’s light-colored sandstone and the gleaming reliquaries.
