Circle of Hans Leinberger (1475/1480-1531) South German, circa 1520-1530

marked: KHZ on the reverse

private collection, Bavaria

Overall the condition of the wood is good, with some dirt and wear consistent with age. The group is composed of five parts: the Virgin, her sceptre, the crown, and two angels. The sceptre is a later replacement and slides into the Virgin's proper right hand with a small modern wood rod. Parts of the angels' forearms and the angels' wings are lost, and there are losses to four of the fingers of the Virgin's proper right hand, and the little finger on her proper left hand. Further losses include a section of the Virgin's cloak at the bottom covering the head, and to the left bottom edge of the crescent moon. There is a possible overpainted loss to one of the Virgin's strands of hair on her proper left side. The polychromy has been refreshed in most areas, notably the blue of the Virgin's mantle and the clouds at the bottom, which has a matte texture. There is some wear to the polychromy in other areas, including craquelure to the flesh tones. There is also wear to the gilding throughout, including some flaking. The Virgin's forearms are very slightly loose, and some linen is visible where her proper right hand joins the sleeve. There is a small metal rod to the crescent moon on the proper left side. There is some stable splitting to the wood consistent with the material, in particular at the bottom of the moon, and an open split to the Virgin's mantle beneath the proper left arm. There is a hole to the Virgin's mantle along her proper right side near the bottom. There is a metal mount to the back of the Virgin. There are a few holes for mounting to each of the angels, and metal hooks for hanging to their backs and a metal wire to the back of the crown.
"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 Virgin's round face with delicate features and a double-chin is typical of the style of Hans Leinberger and his followers, as exemplified by Leinberger's beautiful group of the Virgin and Child at the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Müller, op. cit., fig. 208). Her headband and drapery, though less elaborately modelled, may be compared to the Rosenkranzmadonna Leinberger made for the Basilica in Landshut (Landshut, op. cit., pp. 120-125), which features swags of folds at the front and framing the right leg. A parallel for the Virgin's long, flowing dark hair is found in a Saint Barbara from the circle of the Master of Rabenden, a contemporary of Leinberger (Landshut, op. cit., p. 301).

RELATED LITERATURE
T. Müller, Die Bildwerke in Holz, Ton und Stein von der Mitte des XV. bis gegen Mitte des XVI. Jahrhunderts, exh. cat. Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 1959; Um Leinberger. Schüler und Zeitgenossen, exh. cat. Spitalkirche Heiliggeist, Landshut, 2007