Southern German, Lower Bavaria, or Upper Austrian, circa 1520-1535

with a label on the reverse inscribed: 3097 / Got. / ...

Overall, the condition of the wood is good, with some dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The sculpture appears to have been cut from a full-length statue, probably due to past worm damage. There are some losses, notably to the red sash of drapery on the Virgin's proper left shoulder, the proper right leg and proper left foot of the Christ child, the drapery at the top of the Virgin's proper right arm, and to the drapery at the front at the bottom. There are also a few minor losses to the Virgin's crown at the back. There is evidence of past worming, in particular to the hair of the Virgin at the back, where the wood has become soft, and to the proper left side at the bottom, where it has led to losses. There is minor stable splitting to the wood, consistent with the material, in particular to the Virgin's proper right wrist, and to the back at the centre. There is a carved opening at the back, which may have served as a reliquary. There is a filled hole to the top of the Virgin's head. There is wear to the polychromy throughout, including craquelure and some areas of loss, particularly at the high points, to the bottom of the sculpture and to the Virgin's chest. There is an old nail at the bottom on the reverse, and a modern hook for hanging at the centre of 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 half-figure of the Virgin and Child was probably once a full figure, and an opening on the reverse suggests that it may have been conceived as a reliquary. The Virgin's elegant, elongated form recalls the work of the Upper Bavarian master, Hans Leinberger. Compare his Virgin and Child in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg (inv. no. Pl.O.2892), as well as the massive swirls of drapery around the arms exhibited by his Saint Jacob in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich (Müller, op. cit., p. 213). However the present group may also be associated with works from the Danube School of sculptors in Lower Bavaria and Upper Austria. Stylistic similarities are found in the Anna Selbdritt attributed to the Master of the Altötting Doors in Linz (Landshut, op. cit., no. 28) and the Anna Selbdritt group from the circle of the Master IP in Krumlov (Guillot, op. cit., p. 265). Perhaps the most striking comparison, suggesting a common hand, is found in a Mary Magdalene from Passau (Landshut, op. cit., no. 78) - note here the closely similar face and hair, the small hands, and the exaggerated fold around the left arm.

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; S. Guillot de Suduiraut (ed.), Sculptures allemandes de la fin du Moyen Age dans les collections publiques français: 1400-1530, exh. cat. musée du Louvre, Paris, 1991; Um Leinberger: Schüler und Zeitgenossen, exh. cat. Spitalkirche Heiliggeist, Landshut, 2007