After Stefan Lochner

Collection Dr. J.S. by 1952;
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 30 October 1996, lot 43, where acquired by the present owner, for £5,175.

Marseilles, Musée Cantini, L'Art du Moyen Age dans les Collection Marseillaises, no. 54, 20 May - 20 July 1952.

Marseilles, Musée Cantini, L'Art du Moyen Age dans les Collection Marseillaises, cat. no. 54, 20 May - 20 July 1952.

The panel has been cradled and is secure. The panel is elegant and thin, lying flat and calm. There is an old split beginning at the top edge, 16cm from the right hand edge, measuring 25cm. It runs along the right hand side of the rose tressle in the composition, and is thus by coincidence not obstructive to the unity of the composition. There is another, much finer split , measuring about 34cm from the upper edge, about 10cm from the left hand edge, with some related tiny nicks in the paint on the flying angel's face. This split beging again, in a much finer form, from the lower edge and must indicate a weakness in the panel along that line. There is craquelure throughout the paint surface, and some fading in the gold of the Christ child's halo. A small area of wear in the lower part of the left hand angel's yellow cloak. Details like the peacock and bird feathers of the angel's wings, their delicate golden locks and the leaves of the rose bushes are beautifully preserved and very lovely. There is no area where paint has thinned drastically, and thus the controlled balance of gold with bold colour is maintained as the artist intended. There is a thick varnish. Inspection under UV light reveals very little retouching, just two small areas in the upper left part of the rose tressle, and possibly some restrengthening behind the head of the angel dress in yellow in the right. Three small flakes of lifting paint in the the upper part of the composition have been refixed and secured. This lot is offered in an elegant frame with archictectural elements that mimick the tressling in the composition itself. The grooves are painted dark blue and red and the outer edges gold. The frame has suffered a few knocks but is structurally sound and requires only a lick of gold paint.
"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."

This is an enlarged copy after Lochner's original panel in Cologne, Wallraf-Richartz Museum (inv. no. WRM 67).