Absolon Stumme: A Master of Late Gothic Hamburg The year is 1499. The city of Hamburg, a burgeoning center of trade and art in Northern Germany, is abuzz with creative energy. Amidst this vibrant scene emerges Absolon Stumme (died 1499), an artist whose legacy endures through the intricate altar panels and biblical scenes that bear his name. While details of his life remain somewhat shrouded in the mists of history – a common fate for many artists of the era – we can reconstruct a compelling narrative based on surviving works, historical context, and scholarly analysis. Stumme’s artistic li…