South German School, circa 1500

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The original canvas has been laid on to a pine panel. The panel has split causing the canvas to tear vertically as well. The paint along these tears is unstable and there are undulations across the picture plane. The gold ground is abraded and augmented, there are further extensive paint losses across the surface, some of which have been restored and some un-restored, particularly those to the flesh tones. There is the remains of an old discoloured varnish covering the figures. The paint layer is some areas is in good original and here the impasto and texture is preserved. Offered in a modern gold and red painted frame, in good condition."
"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."

Stylistically the present work seems to call to mind artists from both the Nuremberg school, such as Hans Traut the Younger, and those of the Munich school, like Jan Polack, towards the turn of the century. Regarding the latter, a comparison may be made with the figures in his Holy Kinship in the Blutenburgkapelle, Munich as well as with those of the Peterkirchenaltar, also Munich (for which see P.B. Steiner et al., Jan Polack, exhibition catalogue, Munich 2004-05, p. 189ff.).