Spanish, Rioja or Navarre, second half 16th century

intricately carved in low and high relief, the brocade robes in estofado technique

This relief is in stable, good condition. It is conceived of a series of wood panls which are supported on the reverse by a modern support. There is general wear, rubbing and minor chips, and losses to the edges. There are some cracks extending verticaly through the middle panel (see catalogue photo) and another on the proper right figure. The paint appears to be old, however, areas of underdrawing evident. If a more detailed report on the paint is required, we recommend consulting a painting conservator.
"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 present relief and the following lot probably belonged to a retable formed of a set of large-scale panels in narrative sequence. Panels like these were carved to cover the end walls of apses and chapels in 16th-century Spain. The two scenes represent Christ passing the authority of the church to Peter as the first pope, and, in the present case, the disciples gazing in wonder with gestures of surprise at something outside the sculptural plane. This is most probably the miraculous Assumption of the Virgin, originally represented in a neighbouring panel. The highly animated figures maintain their original rich and glorious polychromy.

The present panels can be compared to the work of Gaspar Becerra (c. 1520-1570) and in particular to his great high altar at the cathedral of Astorga, 1558-62. The altar retable, made up of narrative panels describing scenes of the lives of Christ and the Virgin was an extremely ambitious and successful commission awarded to an artist who only  two years earlier had returned to his native Spain following years of training in Italy, where he was an assistant to Vasari. He brought back with him a taste for michelangelesque massive, powerful figures and strong simple narratives. It is likely that the sculptor of the present panels was working within his sphere of influence. Indeed the architectural elements in the backgrounds of both reliefs, bear witness to the sculptor's knowledge of the Italian Renaissance and the trend for including an architectural setting to provide a convincing space within a sculpted relief.

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Martín González, 'Precisiones sobre Gaspar Becerra', Archivo Español de Arte, 169, 1969, pp. 327-57; P. Lenaghan 'Becerra, Gaspar' in J. Turner ed. The Dictionary of Art (Oxford, 1996), rev. ed. Online, www.groveart.com; J. Berg Sobré, 'The Sculpted Retable in Spain, 1500-1750; S. Stratton, Spanish Polychrome Sculpture 1500-1800 in United States Collections, exh. cat. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, 1994) pp. 55-67