South Netherlandish Master - The Dormition of the Virgin - SOLD
South Netherlandish, possibly Brussels or Antwerp
Late Gothic, ca. 1500
The Dormition of the Virgin
Oak, carved in high relief, partly original polychrome, with later restorations
H. 32 cm. W. 23,5 cm. D. 8 cm.
Provenance
Private collection, Antwerp, Belgium
Private collection, The Netherlands
This group comes from an altar-adornment known as ‘retabel’, which was most likely devoted to the life of the Holy Virgin. This group was carved around 1500 in the Southern Netherlands, most likely in Brussels or Antwerp, both major centres for the retabel production during the Late Middle Ages.
This group depicts the Holy Virgin on her Deathbed. Mary is laying down shrouded, underneath a large bedspread. There are three Apostles standing behind her. St. Peter is placed in the middle wearing a crossed stole. He holds up a Holy Scripture to the Virgin and raises his hand in benediction. Ichnographically interesting is the emotional gesture of St. John (as the youngest Apostle traditionally depicted beardless), who after the death of Christ lived as the son of Mary.
