Antwerp School Lamentation

De Zwaan, from the Netherlands, sells on 1 November 2017 as lot 4508 an "Antwerp School, 16th century" Lamentation, an oil on panel of 57 by 44 cm estimated at 2,000 to 4,000 Euro.

While I haven't been able yet to find a direct example or likely artist for it, it seems to be based on the works of Joos van Cleve Antwerp, 1480-1540).

His Lamentation altarpiece from the Louvre (central panel shown) has the same clothing, a similar Christ, similarly poised lamenting women...

Other similar works (at least in some aspects) are this engraving by the Monogrammist BM from the late 15th century (from the Rijksmuseum), the cross, including its texture, and the position of some of the Mary's.

The figure on the right side seems to be directly inspired by Durers Lamentation from the late 15th century as well.


Considering the quality of the work for sale and its age, it seems very cheap, and it wouldn't surprise me if it fetched 10,000 Euro instead.


UPDATE: sold for 4800 Euro, above the highest estimate but still cheap I think.

UPDATE 2: sold at Dorotheum in April 2018 for 40,000 Euro, more than I expected (I was kindly alerted to this sale by Auctionradar, a very interesting Twitter account and blogger).

"17th century Descent from the Cross" seems to be earlier

Horta, from Belgium, sells on 20 February 2017 a "Flemish School, 17th century" Descent from the cross, estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 Euro.

It has what looks to be the original frame and text, which makes it extra interesting.

"O heere, in uw vijf wonden
hebben wij gratie gevonden"

"Oh lord, in your five wounds
we have found grace"

The painting looks to me as if a miniature painter suddenly was asked to worked on a larger scale (well, only 28 by 16 cm, clearly a work for private devotion), and had some trouble scaling everything. Especially the head of the Virgin is somewhat strange. But the painting overall remains a good work, even when seen up close, and should be the work of a good draughtsman (as it is more a coloured drawing than a real painting). It looks to me more like a work from the second half of the 16th century than an actual 17th century work though.

This Lamentation (the scene right after the Descent from the Cross, but they are often given the same title). reminds me of the works of Gerard David. If it really is 17th century, it is extremely archaic: most similar scenes were painted around 1570 at the latest.

I would estimate it at 3,000 Euro.

UPDATE: sold for 2,000 Euro.