Nikolaus Gerhaert

Much of his documented work is lost to history, but what has survived is characterized by elaborate drapery and extreme physical realism, both extraordinarily vivid and unconventional.

One of his most well known works currently resides in the Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame in Strasbourg (Alsace, present day France).

Called the Buste d'homme accoudé (c. 1465), it is an undisputed masterpiece, and is believed to be a self-portrait.

Gerhaert died on 28 June 1473[1] in Wiener Neustadt (present day Austria) while working on the tomb of Emperor Frederick III.

Nicolaus Gerhaert was summoned to the imperial court to create this tomb after the death of Empress Eleanor of Portugal.