Studio of Gerard David Oudewater near Gouda circa 1460 - 1523 Bruges

Private collection, Spain;
With Hans Cramer, The Hague, 1961 until or after 1963;
Anonymous sale, Laren, Christie's, 10 April 1978, lot 479 (as Adriaen Isenbrandt).

H.M. Cramer, "Kunst Onderweg. Persoonlijke ervaringen van een kunsthandelaar," in Elseviers Maandblad, vol. 31, December 1961, pp. 26 and 31, reproduced p. 22 (as Adriaen Isenbrandt).

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The cradled oak panel shows evidence of previous worm damage leaving the panel fragile. There is a restored central join, with paint loss either side through the Madonna's face, the left hand and body of Christ, and two parallel hairline cracks approximately 10cm long running down from the top of the panel. Both these are restored but are unstable. There are one or two minor retouchings to the background, otherwise the painting is in good condition and would benefit from the removal of the discoloured varnish."
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This panel can be added to a group of works all of which are greatly indebted in their design to a work by Gerard David, in the Museo del Prado, Madrid (see M.J. Friedländer, Early Netherlandish Painting, vol. VIb, Leiden/ Brussels 1971, p. 107, no. 212, reproduced plate 214). It is not surprising that this work was formerly attributed to Isenbrandt given the great debt his paintings owe to his townsman and master, David.