Van Ham, from Germany, sells on 19 May 2017 an "Antwerp Master, ca. 1500" Virgin and Child against a gold background, a private devotional panel (31 by 21 cm) estimated at 14,000 to 18,000 Euro.
It is a composition which appears in many minor variations and by many, mostly anonymous hands around 1480, and which has fetched remarkable prices at auction sometimes.
The original or at least most commonly known and probably best version of the composition is by Quinten Massys (1466-1530), although the actual original is considered to be lost.
Christie's sold this rather weak or dubious version, attributed to "Studio of Metsys", for $31,000 in 2015.
Sotheby's attributes the composition to Joos van Cleve (1485-1540) instead. This nice version from his circle sold for $100,000 in 2013.
This composition was also used by the Master of the Parrots.
Another version, closer to the one for sale, was offered at Koller in 2014 and sold for about 40,000 Euro. This one was attributed to the Master of the Brocade Background (active 1480-1500). While it is slightly better, and slightly older, it is very close to the one for sale in most aspects, although the hands and the heads are somewhat different.
It is now, after restoration, for sale at
Mullany. The restoration has made the difference in quality with the work at auction now much clearer.
The painting for sale seems to be a copy after another work "After the Master of the Brocade", which can be seen at
RKD and was sold in 1938.
Works from the Brocade Master often used such a calligraphic border and a golden background. A similar work by the Master fetched £37,000 at
Christie's in 2009.
Depending on whether you think the work for sale is a work by or after the Master of the Brocade, the value of it will vary. To me, it seems somewhat too weak, too stiff, and it looks more like a "follower" or "circle" work. It should be worth around the estimate in that case.
UPDATE: not sold.
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