Michael Wohlgemuth was born in Nuremberg in 1434 and studied painting with Valentin, his father before becoming the assistant of Hans Pleydenwurff whose widow he eventually married. Wohlgemuth held an enviable position in Nuremberg and was considered as a great master there. He probably travelled to the Netherlands in 1450 and stayed in Munich for a while.
He painted the altar of the St James church of Straubing and was chosen in 1479 as the painter of the altar of the Our Lady church of Zwickau, now considered as his masterpiece.
Wohlgemuth became Albrecht Drers master from 1486 until 1490 and reputedly painted many pieces, which are now attributed to his pupils such as the altar of Perinzdorfer, probably executed by his son-in-law Wilhelm Pleydenwurff.
He decorated the town hall of Goslav and his work earned the title of citizen of that city in 1501. He also was a sculptor and an engraver and illustrated at least books with his son-in-law, notably Schedels Universal Chronicle, better known as the Chronicle of Nuremberg for which he produced some 650 woodcuts around 1491.
The Scenes of Passion, now in the church of Crailshem, some paintings of the altar piece of the church of Hersbruck, an altar piece in the Holy Cross church of Nuremberg and in the church of Saint Lorentz were among some of his best works.
Drer admired Wohlgemuth, who reportedly painted some portraits, and produced two portraits of his master who died at 85 on November 30th 1519.
Some of his religious works can now be seen in a number of museums in Europe, notably in Compigne and Lille (France), in Munich and in Vienna.
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