The Mocking of Christ

In 1995 Ludwig Meyer suggested that this painting and its pendant, The Visitation, originally formed part of a Wandelalter (large altarpiece) painted circa 1500 by Michel Haider and his workshop, probably made up of twelve scenes painted on both sides of six panels that depicted the Passion of Christ when closed, and the Life of the Virgin, when open. According to Meyer, other surviving panels include the double-sided painting of The Adoration and The Arrest of Christ (previously Frankfurt, Berg Collection); The Nativity and Christ before Pilate (Freiburg, Augustinermuseum); and Christ Carrying the Cross and The Crucifixion (Zurich, Kunsthaus).

The paintings are stylistically close to a group of works associated with the previously anonymous Constance-based artist responsible for the Hohenlandenberg Altar (Karlsruhe, Staatliche Kunsthalle). Traditionally called the Master of the Hohenlandenberg Altar, the artist has previously been identified as Matthäus Gutrecht, but more recently Bernd Konrad has suggested the painter was Constance artist, Michel Haider, a proposal that has been generally accepted.