Circle of Hans Strigel II

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The panel is lime wood. It is cradled and fragile due to previous worm infestation. There is a deformed, undulating surface with numerous visible splits and restored paint losses. There is evidence of paint blisters. There are other areas of thinned and compromised paint. The damages and paint losses have been filled and retouched out and pale shrinkage cracquelure that has been reduced. Slight discoloured varnish."
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

We are grateful to Mr. Ludwig Meyer for his assistance in cataloguing this lot. Mr. Meyer believes that the present panel was painted by an artist working in Upper Swabia, most probably in or near Memmingen, who was closely influenced by Hans Strigel the Younger. Strigel the Younger was active in Memmingen in the second half of the fifteenth century where his family had established a large and influential workshop. Mr. Meyer notes in particular that the punched haloes are similar to those in panels by Strigel. Futhermore, Mr. Meyer has compared the present lot with a painting of The Nativity sold in London, Christie's, 21 April 2004, lot 55 (as Circle of Hans Strigel II) and he believes it is likely that both panels are painted by the same hand.