Circle of Bernard van Orley

With G. de Salvatore, Dijon, 1961;
Private collection, Madrid, by the late 1970s;
Private collection, Germany.

Oil on panel, with a rounded top. The surface is in generally good condition. There is a minor dent to the panel at the proper left shoulder of the man in red at lower left. Minor surface dirt and dust. Under UV light, minor dots of retouching are visible in the upper third of the work. A slightly larger area of retouching at Christ's elbows. Minor dots and dashes of retouching through the gentleman in red at lower left and along the lower edge. Generally, the work presents well and can be hung in its current condition. In a carved, painted frame with velvet detail.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Max Friedländer considered this to be an early autograph work by van Orley, although it seems more likely that it is the work of a contemporary follower. Van Orley himself treated the subject on two occasions (Paris, Louvre, oil on panel, 89 x 66 cm, inv. R.F. 1976-1, and Budapest, Szépművészeti Múzeum, oil on panel, 66.5 x 82.5 cm, inv. 2006.2), both of which, like the present painting, were inspired by Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut for the Large Passion. Our painting is particularly close to the panel in Budapest in the treatment of the vegetation and the overall use of chiaroscuro.