Lot 176
  • 176

German School, 16th Century

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description

  • Portrait of a Gentleman, Possibly Godfrey de Bouillon, "The Good Christian"
  • oil on panel

Provenance

Louis Dürr (1821 - 1880), New York;
By whose estate donated to The New-York Historical Society, 1882 (1882.114);
Their sale, New York, Sotheby's, January 12, 1995, lot 11;
There purchased by the present owner.

Literature

Catalogue of the Museum and Gallery of The New-York Historical Society, New York 1915, p. 113, no. D-114 (as Lucas Cranach and of Emperor Frederick I of Germany).

Catalogue Note

Godfrey de Bouillon was born at Baisy, in Brabant, circa 1061 and died in Jerusalem on July 18, 1100.  Along with his brothers Eustace and Baldwin, he set out in 1096 for Jerusalem on the First Crusade.  He fought with distinction in the siege of Jerusalem in 1099 and was elected King of Jerusalem on July 22, 1099, a title which he refused on religious grounds and exchanged for that of Protector of the Holy Sepulcher.  He defeated the sultan of Egypt in the battle of Ascolan on August 12, 1099, completing the conquest of the Holy Land.  Distinguished for his piety and simplicity, Godfrey became the central figure of various legends and his deeds were glorified in the Chansons de Geste.