Copy after Adriaen Isenbrant or Ambrosius Benson

Vanderkindere, auction house in Brussels, sells on 16 June 2015 a "Bruges School, ca. 1550(?)" Virgin and Child, estimated at 800 to 1,200 Euro.

It is an old but amateurish copy of a fairly popular late example of the Early Netherlandish painting in Bruges, evidence of how long such a style persevered and remained popular among the more general audience after the artistic style had changed and new influences had entered painting in Flanders. The original was painted by Adriaen Isenbrant (1490-1551). More or less authentic versions can be found in New York (Aurora Trust), and the Budapest Museum (pictured), and the RKD lists some 15 other copies after Isenbrant. Yet more versions are attributed to Ambrosius Benson and his circle.

Better copies of this work were e.g. sold at Dorotheum in Vienna in 2013 ($20,000, pictured) and at Christie's in 2011 (22,000 Euro). Other versions remained unsold at Sotheby's and Christie's in 2010. The one for sale now has more art historical than purely artistic value, but due to its age and story should easily fetch the estimate and could go to some 2,000 Euro instead. UPDATE: it sold for 1,700 Euro, double the original estimate.