The Cathedral of Xanten received a rich decoration with artworks of various kinds towards the end of its long construction period. In the decades after 1500, numerous high-quality carved and painted altarpieces were created. Made in Antwerp, Cologne, and the Lower Rhine, they showcase the connections that their secular and spiritual patrons maintained. The Antwerp Martyr Altarpiece, the St. Anthony Altarpiece by Jan Baegert, and the Marian Altarpiece by Henrik Douverman will be analyzed in detail to explore the diverse implications of an altarpiece. The elaborately crafted artworks not only depicted the saints but also represented the patrons and artists, revealing their artistic, social, and otherworldly ambitions.