Altar 2

The Trinity, also known as the Holy Trinity, is a fundamental part of Catholic doctrine, describing God as three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In this altar, the Trinity of God is expressed in several places, such as in the depiction of the baptism of Jesus in the upper central part of the altar and in the paintings on the inner wings.

In the carved scene above the three large central figures in the middle, you can see the naked Jesus being baptized by John. An angel holds his robe, and other angels playing music complete the scene. God the Father looks down from above, and the coat of arms at the top refers to the donor, Wolter van Riswick.

The central figure of the altar, not only because of her size and position, is St. Mary Magdalene, who stands below this baptism scene. In her right hand she holds an anointing vessel. In keeping with Renaissance influences, she is depicted as an attractive, wealthy citizen of Kalkar. She is flanked on the left and right by the apostles Peter and Paul, who are dressed in flowing robes reminiscent of Roman togas.

In the predella, three small reliquary gardens enclosed by glass can be seen with fences, plants, and blooming flowers. The names of the saints are inscribed on the wrapped relics. In the left garden, Christ appears to Mary Magdalene; in the middle, the Virgin Mary stands surrounded by a halo; and in the right, St. Agnes stands with a lamb.

The wings were specially made for this altar around 1650. The motifs on the inside are based on the theme of the Trinity, while the outside features medallions depicting the baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

The Trinity Altar is the first altar in St. Nicolai to reflect the spirit of the new Renaissance era. This is evident not only in the figures and ornaments, but also in the overall structure of the altar shrine, which differs from the patterns common in the late Gothic period and appears much more detailed and playful.