Saint Peter. Carved oak wood sculpture with polychrome

Saint Peter. Carved oak wood sculpture with polychrome residue. Dutch or German School. Circa 1500.
The sculpture could have been made by the German born master Claus Berg (1470 - 1532), who was also known as the Master of the Piercing Eyes. He had his workshop in Odense, Denmark, and the altarpiece of the cathedral of that city is one of his greatest works.
Saint Peter stands on some rocks, which symbolise the building of the Church. He is in a balanced posture, wearing a finely sculpted tunic and cloak, which form multiple uneven folds. His face is expressive and slightly severe, appearing to question the observer as his eyes show expressive penetration and surprise, this being one of Claus Berg´s principle characteristics. Another of his peculiarities, which we also find in this Saint Peter, is the lengthening of the figure through the enormous scale of the legs. What now appears to be disproportionate, is the result of seeing sculptures from a perspective which was not planned by the sculptors who carved them, as they were designed to be seen on an altar, which would have placed them higher than the people looking at them.
Height: 78 cm.