Attributed to the Master of the Schongauer-Altärchens German, Upper Swabia, circa 1490-1500

From the Laupheim region (according to Anna Oertel, as recorded in 1984 in a letter from Theodor Müller);
Dr. Richard Edwin Oertel collection, Munich;
his sale, Rudolf Lepke Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 6-7 May 1913, lot 41;
there bought by the consignor;
Ludwig Roselius, Bremen, 1928;
Wilhelm van Suntum, Herford, circa 1938;
private collection, Frankfurt am Main, 1970;
and thence by descent

T. Demmler, Sammlung Dr. Oertel München. Bildwerke der Gotik und Renaissance in Holz, Stein und Ton vornehmlich Deutsche Holzplastik, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 6-7 May 1913, p. 18, pl 27, lot 41:
H. Wilm, Die gotische Holzfigur, Leipzig, 1923, p. 169, pl. 98;
A. Miller, 'Der Meister des Schongauer-Altärchens in Ulm und Passau', Zeitschrift der deutschen Vereins für Kunstwissenschaft, 63, 2009, pp. 138-198, fig. 13

Overall the condition of the wood is good. There is dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is wear to the polychromy and gilding throughout. There is some stable splitting throughout the wood, consistent with the material. There is a larger, slightly open stable split running down through the Virgin's proper left arm and side and behind one of the folds of drapery; this has been strengthened with a pin. There is a loss to the bottom of the Virgin's drapery on her proper right side towards the back of the sculpture. There is another small loss to the Virgin's drapery near her foot on her proper left side. The Virgin's proper left hand may have been reattached. There are a number of metal pins, including one in the front towards the crescent moon on the Vigin's proper left side, and three in the back. There is a wood peg or pin slightly visible on the top of the Virgin's head and visible at the back. There is evidence of past worming throughout. The base does not appear to be original.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The small oval facial type with the high forehead, strong chin and elegant neck combined with the strongly undercut drapery suggests the hand of a master who was educated shortly after the middle of the 15th century in South West Germany, probably in the Upper Rhine area and Ulm.

Of the four well-known Upper Swabian Madonna statues formerly in the Oertel collection (Oertel sale lots 38, 40, 41 and 53), the present Virgin and Child is the most expressive and rich in details. The so-called Sigmaringer Madonna from Grüningen in Saulgau (Oertel sale lot 40) is particularly closely related to the present figure and may have been carved by the same master.

Dr Richard E. Oertel amassed one of the most important private collections of Gothic wood sculpture of its time in his Munich residence. The collection included now-famous wood sculptures such as the Dangolsheimer Madonna by Nicolaus Gerhaert von Leyden (Bodemuseum, Berlin) and the Oertel Madonna by Daniel Mauch (Kunstmuseum, Düsseldorf).

RELATED LITERATURE
R. Müller-Mehlis, 'Zur Versteigerung der Oertel-Kollektion: Die wundersamen Wege einer Skulpturen-Sammlung', Handelsblatt, No. 158, 17th/18th August 1979, p. 20; A. Schädler, Kunstauktionshaus Neumeister, Munich, 5 November 1979, lot 26