German, Upper Rhine, circa 1460-70

centred by the Virgin seated on a bier, a candle in her hand, the Apostles around her

The paint has been refreshed on the faces and cleaned with traces of original paint beneath and traces of original gilding. The tips of some of the noses have been chipped, with some minor chips overall. The third apostle from the right is missing the implement from his proper right hand. There are traces of old worming. There is an added section at the back of the halo of the apostle second from the left. The reverse has been reinforced with a vertical wood section below the halo section. There are a few minor splits to the base as visible in the catalogue photograph. There are some areas of old canvass restoration, including an areas on the Virgin's pillow, the forehead of the apostle second from the right and the halo of the apostle on the far right. Otherwise this striking relief is in good and stable condition with some wear consistent with age.
"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."

The treatment of the drapery with softened angular folds together with the pinched faces of the Virgin and the onlookers can be compared with work from the Upper Rhine towards the end of the third quarter of the fifteenth century. Compare in particular with the relief The Birth of Christ in the Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe, formerly from the Strassburg Kartause. Dating from circa 1460, the Kartause relief demonstrates the same naturalistic but naive impression as the present panel, with a similarly intricate and sophisticated composition which is more reminiscent of Middle Rhine and Lower Rhine wood sculpture. A further comparison of the soft angular folds and the distinctive facial features can be seen in the figure of the Mourning Virgin also in the Badisches Landesmuseum and dating to circa 1470.

RELATED LITERATURE
Spätgotik am Oberrhein, exh.cat. Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe, 1970, cat.no.6 and 13