L13037

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Lot 101
  • 101

Follower of Rogier van der Weyden

Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
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Description

  • Rogier van der Weyden
  • Virgin and Child
  • oil on panel

Condition

The panel is old and not cradled but remains very stable and flat. The paint surface is stable and thick. Subtle colours like the pinkish flush on the Virgin's cheek and the fine lines denoting the curls in the child's hair are well- preserved and have a beautiful effect. There is a delicate craqueleur visible across the skin and veil. A thick protective varnish across the whole panel brings out the luminous gold of the Virgin's halo and the detail of her robes. The painting is on the whole ready to hang and needs no work. Examination under UV light shows some spot repair to the Virgin's face and to her veil. Also some slightly larger patches of repainting in her dark cloak and in the background upper left. There are some signs of frame rubbing that have been carefully overpainted and are not visble to the naked eye. There is a small, well-executed repair in the lower left corner, where the paint seems to have lifted slightly in the past. The face of the child, and the eyes of both figures have been left in their original state and are beautifully preserved. There is a chip in the paint half way down the right hand edge, measuring 2 cm. This lot is sold in a wooden frame, painted green on the outer edge, and gold on the inner edge.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This wonderfully tender depiction of the Virgin and Child shows the intimacy between the two figures radiating out from a dark background. Christ’s twisting pose, with one hand clutching for his mother’s veil and the other drawing her chin closer to his own, effectively contrasts with the Virgin’s steady gaze and gently supporting hands. Whilst the harmonious design is achieved through repetition in the positioning of the figures’ arms, the proximity of the figures' faces, as if their lips are just about to touch, vividly conveys a sense of closeness. This composition draws upon the infamous Byzantine icon known as the Cambrai Madonna,1 an image which strongly influenced painters of devotional art from the 15th century onwards, due to its enormous power in evoking the emotional bond between the Virgin and Christ.

1. See The Master of the Flémalle and Rogier van der Weyden, exhibition catalogue, Gemäldegalerie, Berlin 2009, p. 328, fig. 199 reproduced.