Lot 128
  • 128

THE ALZIRA MASTER | Saint John the Baptist in a landscape

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
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Description

  • Saint John the Baptist in a landscape
  • oil on pine panel, in a Spanish carved and gilt wood frame
  • 102 x 67 cm.; 40 1/8  x 26 3/8  in.

Provenance

In the collection of the present family since at least the early 20th century.

Condition

The painting is in overall fair condition. The panel is uncradled and very slightly bowed. The paint surface is relatively clean, and the varnish is quite shiny, but the colours remain bright and vibrant. The reverse has horse hair adhered to it and traces of a previous cross-shaped batten that has been removed. There is an old, repaired, vertical split in the panel just to the left of centre which runs almost the height of the panel, and which has been in-filled, possibly with wax, on the reverse. There are two further short, vertical splits running up from the lower margin in the lower left corner, each approx. 20 cm. long, which also appear to have been in-filled with wax on the reverse. Retouching is visible along these splits, as well as along a vertical surface crack running from the upper margin in the upper right corner down to the top of the far mountain, and further retouching is visible in the dark foliage approx. 10 cm. from the upper margin, in what appears to be a repaired diagonal crack in the paint surface measuring approx. 50 cm. Further restoration is visible to a curved line of repaired damage around St John’s hand approx. 12 cm. long. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals at least 2 campaigns of retouching which comprise older retouchings along the aforementioned splits, along the left and right margins, scattered in the foliage, and in parts of the foreground such as the rocks and tree trunk. More recent retouching is found in the dark folds of St John’s garments, scattered around the lamb, and spot retouchings in his face, hair and around his head in the background.
"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."

Catalogue Note

This recently discovered painting of Saint John the Baptist in a landscape can be ranked among the finest known works by the Alzira Master, an artist who worked in the close circle of Fernando Yañez and Fernando Llanos (‘Los Hernandos’) in Valencia during the first half of the 16th century. The facial type of Saint John and the beautifully observed landscape reveal the pervasive influence that Leonardo and his Milanese followers exerted on artists on the eastern seaboard of Spain. The Alzira Master is named after his altarpiece dedicated to the Virgin painted for the Church of Saint Augustine in the village of Alzira in the region of Valencia, the wings of which are dated 1527. The altarpiece was dispersed during the Spanish Civil War and five of the panels are today in the Colegio de los Padres Escolapios, Gandía. Other works by the artist include a painting of Saint Michael Archangel in the Museo de Bellas Artes, Valencia, the Allegory of Human Passions in the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest and a panel from an altarpiece dedicated to Saint James the Greater in the National Gallery of Art, Dublin.

The present work reveals a number of characteristics that are typical of the Alzira Master’s distinctive style, above all a predilection for rendering figures in profile, the linear treatment of the folds of drapery and the highly detailed depiction of the landscape, which reveals both a Milanese and Flemish influence. Within the artist’s known œuvre this newly discovered Saint John the Baptist reveals particular affinities with the aforementioned altarpiece dedicate to Saint James the Greater in the National Gallery of Art, Dublin, which is dated 1553 and provides a likely indication of the date of execution for the present work.

We are grateful to Dr. José Gómez Frechina for endorsing the attribution to the Alzira Master, for suggesting a date of circa 1540–55 and for pointing out that this is one of the finest known works by the artist. His certificate, dated 20 October 2015, accompanies this lot.