When fully open, the central scene of the altar is the crucifixion of Christ surrounded by two rows of sculptures of the apostle and saints. The two donors of the altarpiece — the Mecklenburg dukes Magnus I and Balthasar — appear twice in the central scene. First, they pray at the bottom with the family shield at the center and then again standing on the far left and right of the gathering around the cross.
As with any major medieval artwork, the messaging is subtle but clear — a small angel hovers over the condemned man on the left (who acknowledged Jesus as Christ) to take his soul to heaven while a small devil is above the man crucified on the right ready to take him straight to hell. The six small figures on the frame of the crucifixion scene are the prophets — their scrolls are empty to show that the death of Christ fulfilled the promises of the old testament. On the predella is a painting of Christ surrounded by the traditional four Latin church fathers.