ALTARPIECE OF OUR LADY OF BETHLEHEM

SUPPORT AND ELABORATION 

At present, the groups of sculptures and some of the compartments of the Gothic altarpiece have been redistributed over the architecture of this Baroque altarpiece. These pieces of original reliefs are made from thick oak beams assembled as multiple boxes joined together by dovetailed joints in the upper corners.

Both the fairly large main figures and the groups of smaller sculptures are fashioned from walnut and are nailed to their bases. The majority of the smaller-sized reliefs are made from one single piece of wood. The rears of these figures have been only roughly hollowed out. The rears of the figure of the Holy Virgin after whom the work is named and the figures crowning the work, all of which are joined together, however, have been completely hollowed out and bear the marks of the gouges used in the process.

The Baroque altarpiece is free-standing and attached to the front wall by means of wooden braces.