The Master of Sainte Gudule

With Kunsthandel Paul Cassirer & Co., Amsterdam, 1939;
With Jacques Goudstikker, Amsterdam;
Possibly anonymous sale, Amsterdam, May 1942 (according to annotations in the Friedlander archive at the RKD, The Hague);
Hans A. Wetzlar, Amsterdam, by July 1942;
Anonymous Sale, Cologne, Lempertz and Heberle, 18–20 November 1954, lot 7;
With P. de Boer, Amsterdam;
From whom acquired by a Swiss private collector, in 1955, and thence by descent within the family;
Restituted to Marei von Saher, the heir of Jacques Goudsitkker in May 2016.

M.J. Friedländer, 'Der Meister von Sainte Gudule. Nachträgliches', in Annuaire des Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, II, 1939, p. 29, reproduced fig. 6 (as the Master of Saint Gudule);
Catalogue of the Collection Dr. H. Wetzlar, Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1952, p. 16, no. 59 (as The Master of Saint Gudule);
M.J. Friedländer, Early Netherlandish Painting, vol. IV, Leyden and Brussels 1969, p. 90, add. 159, reproduced pl. 118 (as Master of the View of Sainte Gudule).

This fragment derives from a single plank, which has been marouflaged and cradled. There is an old vertical split running the height of the panel, about a third from the left-hand side, and an old painted addition to the lower edge, approx. 3 cm. high. The paint surface is relatively clean and the varnish is clear and even. The ground is slightly visible in parts of the green and dark dresses, and in Saint Ursula's cloaked sleeve. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals retouching to the aforementioned split, as well as two patches of retouching at the base of the green dress, the larger of which measures 5.5 x 5 cm. There are smaller areas of retouching, approx. 1 by 1 cm. in the edge of Saint Ursula's dress, at the top of the green dress and in the red headdress. There are tiny spot retouchings in the shadow of the cloak behind the figures and in the dark dress, lower right. In overall fair condition.
"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."

A second fragment from this altarpiece by the Master of Sainte Gudule surfaced at an auction in Cologne in 2014, showing those figures sheltered under Saint Ursula's right arm dressed in a gold brocade sleeve and blue grey mantle, before a pale brick wall.¹

The artist was named by Friedländer after a panel in the Louvre of Saint Géry Preaching, which depicts in the background the façade of the cathedral church of Sainte Gudule in Brussels (subsequently re-dedicated to Saint Michael). The artist is thus also called The Master of the View of Sainte Gudule, and is known to have been active well before the end of the 15th century as one of the towers of the Cathedral is depicted unfinished in the Louvre panel, and the towers are known to have been completed in 1481. 

1. Sold, Zurich, Koller, 14–19 September 2015, lot 3007.