Attributed to The Master of Becerril

Believed to have been in the collection of the family of the present owners for at least 35 years.

The panel has developed a slight bow but is otherwise sound. The painting is dirty and its varnish discoloured but is in good overall condition and the majority of the details well preserved. There are a number of visible old repairs, chiefly to old cracks in the upper and lower left hand corners, an irregular 7 cm old crack coming down from the upper edge just left of centre, to a 2 x 2 cm loss above the head of the kneeling Magus, and to other scattered smaller old losses, notably along the lower edge of the panel. The old restoration has now discoloured in many parts, such as the sky. Offered in a modern parcel gilt wood frame.
"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 master, who was active in Palencia in the following of Juan de Flandes, is so-named after his altarpiece representing scenes from the life of S. Pelayo, painted for the church of San Pelayo, near Becerril de Campos. The altarpiece, datable to the first decade of the 16th century, remained in situ until the early 1950s before being removed to Malaga and, ultimately, dispersed (see I. Mateo Gomez, 'La Celestina – Fuente Mitológica para el Retablo de San Pelayo del Maestro de Becerril: Comitente y Autor, in Archivo Español del Arte, LXII, 287, July–Sept 1999, pp. 289–304).