T he Imagery of the Man of Sorrows first emerged as part of the production of Byzantine icons during the 12th century, based on a passage from Isaiah, in the Old Testament. The Sorrowful Christ, known as Akra Tapeinosis (Utmost Humiliation), was depicted with His head reclining to one side, closed eyes and crossed hands revealing the nail wounds, and was often flanked on His left by a Mourning Virgin, who witnessed His Passion.

From then on the production of icons increased rapidly, and through the mercantile trade with Crete these devotional objects travelled as gifts, souvenirs and stolen goods, to reach Flanders, in Northern Europe, where they eventually started to be collected and copied.

Particularly during the second half of the fifteenth century, icons were associated with the rising of the Devotio Moderna, which urged a more emphatic devotion and identification of the devotee with the physical suffering of Christ. As such a vast number of these objects was produced during this time, the representations of the Man of Sorrows and Mourning Virgin were interpreted in many different ways.

The use of oil as a medium, so favoured in the North, also aided artists in adapting their style to the visual requirements of the Devotio Moderna, enabling a more realistic representation of details such as the blood weeping from Christ’s wounds and the Crown of Thorns, as well as the tears running down the Virgin’s cheeks. Artists such as Dieric and Aelbert Bouts and Simon Marmion excelled in the production of these devotional panels, which were soon copied within their workshops and by their followers.

This diptych, by a follower of Simon Marmion, is a high-quality version derived from Marmion's prime example of 1460, today in the collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Strasbourg. Incorrectly conjoined in 19th century engaged frames, this diptych would originally have seen the Virgin flanking the image of Christ on the left, engaging directly with her son and interceding on behalf of the devotee. Compared to other examples of this type, the diptych is a faithful interpretation of the Byzantine iconography of the Man of Sorrows with the eyes semi closed in acceptance of His suffering, the head bent to the left and the hands crossed showing the blood flowing through the arms, almost touching the frame of the panel to enhance the proximity of Christ to the devotee. Furthermore, both panels show the mastery of the artist in the detailed depiction of Christ’s flesh, as well as the Virgin’s garments and veil, which fall in crisp folds. Finally, the gold background of these works enhance the images’ original function as icons.

Past Auction

Old Masters including Portrait Miniatures from the Pohl-Ströher Collection

29 April–7 May 2020 | 2:00 PM BST | London