Southern German, circa 1510-1520

with a label inscribed: 40012 - 1 to the reverse, and another inscribed: British / Rail Trust 0398

Sotheby's London, 10 April 1975, lot 16;
The British Rail Pension Fund;
its sale, Sotheby's London, 4 July 1996, lot 20;
private collection, Austria

San Antonio Museum of Art, 1986-1995

Overall the condition of the wood is good, with some wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. The child's proper right lower arm is lost. There are a few more minor losses, such as to the swirl of drapery at the bottom on the proper left side. There are a few areas of loss to the gilding and polychromy, notably around Anne's sleeve and chest, her proper right knee and the folds of drapery at her front, and those around the Virgin's legs. There is further wear to the gilding and polychromy, including some craquelure and flaking. Some of the gilding and polychromy, notably on Anne's dress and her proper left sleeve, appears to have been refreshed since the sale in 1996. There is some stable splitting to the wood consistent with the material, in particular at the front between Anne's legs and around the bottom, and to the back. There is minor evidence of non-active worming, in particular to the sides and to the back. There is a shallow hole to the top of Anne's head. There is an old metal hook to the reverse, as well as a few drilled holes. There is an illegible inscription in red chalk to the reverse.
"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."

This beautiful Anna Selbdritt compares with Swabian wood sculpture from the first decades of the 16th century. The animated drapes, carved in large swathes, with rippling folds, recall early works by Daniel Mauch and artists operating within his circle. Compare with the Anna Selbdritt which has been associated with Mauch in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg (inv. no. PI.O.199). Parallels with Franconian sculpture from the period might nonetheless indicate that the group was made a little further north in the areas around Nuremberg or Bamberg. Compare St. Anne, for example, with the Franconian figure of the Virgin in the Hessischen Landesmuseum Darmstadt, dating to circa 1500-1510 (inv. no. PI 01:34). Note the similar crescent shaped eyes, wide mouth, and headdress articulated with a border like that on St Anne's bib.

RELATED LITERATURE
M. Woelk, Bildwerke vom 9. bis zum 16. Jahrhundert aus Stein, Holz und Ton im Hessischen Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Darmstadt, 1999, pp. 404-405, no. 90; N. Jopek, German Sculpture 1430-1540: A Catalogue of the Collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, pp. 86, 120, nos. 36, 54; Daniel Mauch: Bildhauer im Zeitalter der Reformation, exh. cat., Ulmer Museum, Ulm, 2009, pp. 176-179, no. 9