Reformation altarpiece: The Baptism (recto), The Brazen Serpent (verso) [left wing]

The recto shows Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560) baptizing an infant. [...] Here the motif has been expanded to include a group of finely dressed women, some with their backs to the viewer. They have gathered around the imposing chalice-shaped baptismal font, which is decorated with grotesque elements. Masks of male sea monsters are depicted in the vines, as well as the figure of a man seated on a column and a naked water nymph. Melanchthon and other members of the community stand around the font, as well as two men, assisting with the baptism. One of them has been identified as Caspar Aquila (1488-1560). He holds an open book and looks out at the viewer. The open page is from St Mark's Gospel (Mk 16, 16) with texts in both German (left) and Latin (right). Another man beside Melanchthon holds a white cloth to wrap the infant in after the immersion.

The scene on the reverse depicts a scene described in the 4th book of Moses when the Israelites lost patience with God and Moses in the desert. God sent poisonous serpents among the people of Israel, and many were bitten and died. The people repented and asked Moses to intercede for them. God commanded them to erect a serpent of bronze, which would heal those who looked upon it, their faith would save them (4 Mose 21,4-9). The panel shows both the Israelites who were condemned to death after being bitten, as well as those standing on the right who were delivered from death by looking at the brazen serpent. Moses points with his right raised hand towards the brazen serpent, and with his left hand down at the deadly serpents crawling along the ground.

[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 83-86]