Short answers, pulled from the story.
The name Master MS appears on a 1507 charter from Selmecbánya, yet no one knows the painter's real identity. German art historians often point to J. Brieu, a painter from Augsburg who worked during that same period. Other scholars suggest Matthäus Zaisinger, an engraver and goldsmith born in Munich around 1498.
Master MS operated his workshop in Selmecbánya, now known as Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia. This town was part of the Kingdom of Hungary during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Historical records indicate he likely led a team of assistants within this central European location.
The painter combined dramatic depth with colorful decorative elements in ways similar to Martin Schongauer and Matthias Grünewald. Art historians note strong parallels between Master MS's work and pieces created by Albrecht Dürer or J. Brieu. These stylistic choices reveal a blend of German Gothic traditions with emerging Renaissance techniques.
Eight panel paintings once decorated the high altar of the Virgin Mary Church in Selmecbánya. New research indicates these works belonged to that church rather than Saint Catherine Church as previously believed. Only seven panels survive, while one remains lost to history.
Four Passion scenes remain housed within the Christian Museum in Esztergom, Hungary. The painting titled The Birth of Christ is located in Svätý Anton near Banská Štiavnica. Another work called The Adoration of the Magi resides in the Museum of Lille in France.