School of Cologne, circa 1480-1500

Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (1717-1797), Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, Middlesex;
By inheritance to John James, 6th Earl Waldegrave (1785-1835);
His estate sale, Strawberry Hill, George Robins auctioneers, 25 April - 24 May 1842, 22nd day of sale (19 May), lot 125 (as 'A valuable old picture, on panel, representing a Marriage Ceremony, with a numerous assemblage of Figures; a fine specimen of the early German school and probably by VAN EYCK');
Acquired at the above sale by Edward Smith Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby (1918-1994);
His sale, London, Christie's, 22 April 1955, lot 28 (as School of Cologne);
Private collection.

Manchester, Catalogue of the Art Treasures of the United Kingdom, 1857, provisional catalogue, no. 922; 2nd ed. of catalogue, no. 428 (as "Old German").

H. Walpole, Aedes Strawberrianae. Name of Purchasers and the Price to the Sale Catalogue of the Collections of Art and Virtù, at Strawberry-Hill, Formed by Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford, London 1842, p. 53;
[Catalogue of the paintings at Knowsley Hall], 1850, no. 294;
Catalogue of the paintings at Knowsley Hall], 1860, no. 386 (as attributed to Jan van Eyck);
G. Scharf, A Descriptive and Historical Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures at Knowsley Hall, London 1875, pp. 190-191, no. 367;
F.H. Stephens, Notes on the pictures at Knowsley Hall, 1881 (as by an artist of the "early German school");
W.H.J. Weale and M.W. Brockwell, The Van Eycks and Their Art, New York and London 1912, p. 257 (Appendix B: "List of Pictures...sold at Public Auction under the name of the Van Eycks");
A. Graves, A Century of Loan Exhibitions, 1813-1912, vol. I, London 1913, p. 411 (as German School (Old)).

The catalogue illustration is a bit too red in tone. The panel has an old cradle and remains flat and stable. The barbs signifying the original painted edges are visible on all four sides of the paint surface. The paint surface is now dirty and covered with a discoloured varnish layer, but appears to be in excellent overall condition. Inspection under ultra violet light reveals virtually no later intervention, and apart from a tiny loss on the upper edge and an old repair on the hem of the bottom of the Virgin's robe, no damages are visible. This lot is sold unframed.
"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."