Rogier was at the height of his artistic powers when, in around 1455, he painted this altarpiece for the church of St Columba in Cologne. The Netherlandish artist not only created this work for a patron in Cologne, but also drew inspiration from an outstanding painting done in Cologne at this period, Stefan Lochner's Altarpiece of the Patron Saints of Cologne, sometimes known as the Cathedral Altarpiece.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 22 minutes): Heinrich Schütz: Magnificat

Preview	Picture Data	File Info	Comment
	St Columba Altarpiece c. 1455 Oil on oak panel, 138 x 153 cm (central), 138 x 70 cm (each wing) Alte Pinakothek, Munich	1450*650 True Color 190 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (left panel) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel, 138 x 70 cm Alte Pinakothek, Munich	700*1385 True Color 178 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (central panel) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel, 138 x 153 cm Alte Pinakothek, Munich	1065*970 True Color 194 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (detail) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel Alte Pinakothek, Munich	740*1030 True Color 161 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (detail) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel Alte Pinakothek, Munich	775*972 True Color 200 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (detail) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel Alte Pinakothek, Munich	900*1321 True Color 215 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (detail) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel Alte Pinakothek, Munich	1320*776 True Color 208 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (right panel) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel, 138 x 70 cm Alte Pinakothek, Munich	701*1340 True Color 159 Kb
	St Columba Altarpiece (detail) c. 1455 Oil on oak panel Alte Pinakothek, Munich	950*1115 True Color 149 Kb