Thursday 9 November 2017

Nice collection at Galerie Moderne (part 3)

Galerie Moderne, from Belgium, sells on 14 November a 2017 a nice collection of mainly 16th-century Flemish paintings.


Lot 206 is a Vision of Saint Jerome, by an "Anonymous, 16th century" artist, estimated at 6,000 to 8,000 Euro. It is a smallish panel of only 38 by 31 cm.

The work is clearly Flemish, but is otherwise quite unusual. It combines the typical elements of a "Vision of Saint Jerome" and a "Penitent Jerome" (saint Jerome beating his chest with a stone in his hands, with the lion nearby), with typical elements from a "Last Judgment" (the top half). I haven't found any other example where these two are brought together.

The image of Christ in the clouds (with one or two raised arms and bare torso), with Mary on the left and John the Baptist on the right, can e.g. be seen in the above examples (details) by Crispijn Van den Broeck and certainly the bottom one, the Last Judgment by Pieter Pourbus, from Bruges, ca. 1550.

I have a feeling that I must know the artist, especially the Saint Jerome seems familiar, but it escapes me. At any rate, the estimate is reasonable or perhaps a bit high from a purely artistic quality point of view, but as an art historical rarity it has some extra value.

UPDATE: sold for 7,000 Euro, mid-estimate.


Lot 209 is an "Anonymous, 16th - 17th century" Virgin and Child in a landscape, estimated at 5,000 to 7,000 Euro.  It is a kind of non-descript Biblical scene, which may be described as a Rest on the Flight to Egypt, or a Maria Lactans, or simply a Virgin and Child of course.



Similar works have been made by many Flemish artists in the 16th and early 17th century, but this one seems to be 16th century. They often feature either a book in the lap of Mary, or a basket with cloth on the ground, or (as here) both. This can e.g. also be seen in works of the Master of the Female Half-Lengths, but the closest comparison bear the works of Barend van Orley; not really one specific painting, but the general style and elements from his works (three examples shown).

The work for sale is probably from around 1550 and should easily fetch the estimate.

UPDATE: sold for 10,000 Euro, double the estimate, worth it!

Tomorrow: more works from the same sale!

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