Netherlandish or German, circa 1430-1450

Overall the condition of the alabaster is good with wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. Some detail around the faces may have been lost due to rubbing or weathering. The right arm of Christ, and the hands and Head of the Virgin are lost, as are the proper left front and right back corner of the base. The left back corner was reattached. There is faint naturally occurring veining visible on the surface, including a grey raised vein at Saint Anne's back. There is some orange staining to the back of the head.
"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 cascading drapery of the present figure is typical of the Beautiful Style that emanated from Bohemia at the end of the 14th century and influenced art in Northern Europe for the next century. Alabaster statuettes in this style are rare and usually associated with the workshop of the Master of Rimini. Four apostles from the Musée Sandelin in Saint-Omer that were exhibited in Ghent in 1994 (Steyaert, op.cit.) relate closely to the present figure, up to the raised grey veins included in the stone. They display the same fluidity in the drapery that sets the present statuette apart from the Rimini group and are thought to have been set in an altarpiece in the Notre-Dame of Saint-Omer with numerous other statuettes.

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Steyaert, Late Gothic Sculpture. The Burgundian Netherlands, exh. cat. Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent, 1994, pp. 327-329, no. 99