The Master with the Parrot

In the possession of the present owner's family in Koblenz or Aachen since at least the 19th century;
In the inventory of the present owner's grandmother drawn up in Berlin or Bückeburg in the 1920s, no. 2.

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The oak panel has two unstable vertical joins along which can be seen discoloured restoration but no evidence of much paint loss. There are areas of unstable paint in the sky and to the Madonna's face. There appears to be some excessive retouching around the Madonna's head. The surface is covered in a discoloured varnish, the removal of which would improve the tonality. The overall condition is good."
"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 anonymous but distinctive Antwerp artist was named after the green parrot that occurs in a number of his works, often (as here) with a still life of fruit in a tazza.

A similar picture to this one, with a Virgin and Child identically posed, seated on a ledge with a parrot perched on a tazza bearing fruit, a landscape with St. Joseph and the donkey to the right and a village to the left, was sold New York, Sotheby's, 28 January 1999, lot 222.