Workshop of Jörg Lederer (circa 1470-1550) Southern German or Tyrolean, circa 1520

inscribed: 534 on the reverse and with remnants of a label on the underside inscribed: ...EREWIGTEN / ... JAKOB VON / ...EMALIGEN / ...N NATIO- / ...ERVATORS / ...R.

M. Dumoulin, Brussels, Belgium;
Christie's London, 14 December 1999, lot 42;
with Sascha Mehringer, Munich, Germany;
private collection, the Netherlands

J. Boccador and E. Bresset, Statuaire Médiévale de collection, 1972, II, p. 180, fig. 198

Overall the condition of the wood is good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are reattachments, as well as some possible restorations, to the fingers of both hands. There are some minor losses to the shoes at the front, to the back of the hat, and to the back of the terrasse, possibly due to past worming. There is some stable splitting to the wood consistent with the material, notably to the left side of the torso running through to the codpiece, another running through the centre of the terrasse, and a minor split to the proper left side of the forehead. There is some wear to the gilding and polychromy, revealing the red ground of the gilding in areas. There are some minor losses including flaking to the gilding and polychromy, and there is some minor craquelure, including in the face. It is likely that the gilding and polychromy have been refreshed in areas. There are three small holes to the reverse. It appears that the back right corner of the terrasse is carved separately. There is also evidence of past worming to the underside. The sword detaches and is probably of a later date. One of the cross guards of the sword is slightly loose.
"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 sensitive figure of a knightly saint has in the past been identified as Maximilian I of Austria (Boccador, op. cit.), on the basis of similarities to Albrecht Dürer's portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Stylistically the figure fits well among the oeuvre of Jörg Lederer and his workshop, which was active primarily in the southern Bavarian towns of Füssen and Kaufbeuren, but also produced altarpieces for churches in Tyrol. Compare the figure of Saint John the Evangelist in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (inv. no. MA 1486), as well as the Saint George from the High Altar in Latsch, South Tyrol, who sports a similarly fashionable hat.

RELATED LITERATURE
T. Müller, Die Bildwerke in Holz, Ton und Stein von der Mitte des XV. bis gegen Mitte des XVI. Jahrhunderts, cat. Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 1959, p. 249; R. Kahsnitz, Die grossen Schnitzaltäre: Spätgotik in Süddeutschland, Österreich, Südtirol, Munich, 2005, pl. 218