The Externsteine relief is a monumental rock relief depiction of the Descent from the Cross scene, carved into the side of the Externsteine sandstone formation in the Teutoburg Forest. The Externsteine are located near Detmold, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia but in the Middle Ages in the Duchy of Saxony.
It is the oldest relief of this type known north of the Alps, dated to the high medieval period (likely the 12th century).[1]
- ^ Otto Schmitt: "Zur Datierung des Externsteinreliefs". In: Oswald Goetz (ed.): Beiträge für Georg Swarzenski zum 11. Januar 1951. Mann, Berlin 1951, S. 26–38; Fritz Saxl: "English Sculptures of the 12th Century." ed. Hanns Swarzenski. Faber & Faber, London 1954; Otto Gaul: "Neue Forschungen zum Problem der Externsteine". In: Westfalen. 32 (1955), S. 141–164. dissenting view: Walther Matthes / Rolf Speckner. Das Relief an den Externsteinen. Ein karolingisches Kunstwerk und sein spiritueller Hintergrund. Ostfildern 1997.