NORTHERN GERMAN, PROBABLY LÜBECK, OR LOWER RHINE, CIRCA 1490-1500 | Pair of reliefs of Apostles, including Saint John the Evangelist

With Jacqueline Boccador, Paris, 1974;
private collection, Belgium, acquired from the above circa 1975-1976

Paris, Centre International de Paris, II^e Biennale Internationale, 1974;
Brussels, Société Générale de Banque, Les Sculptures médiévales allemandes dans les Collections Belges, 1977, no. 76

J. Boccador, 'Les diverses tendances du Spätgotik', in VII^e Biennale Internationale des Antiquaires (cat.), Paris, 1974, p. 90, fig. 41
R. Didier and H. Krohm, Les Sculptures médiévales allemandes dans les Collections Belges, exh. cat. Société Générale de Banque, Brussels, 1977, pp. 166-167, no. 76

Overall the condition of the reliefs is very good, with minor wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. There are a few minor losses, including to the bearded figure's finger tips on the book and his proper right toes. There are a few minor chips, including to the edges of the drapery. There is minor stable splitting to the wood, consistent with the material, notably some open splits with fill to Saint John's proper right shoulder. There is a hole to the top of each head, and a small metal loop for hanging on each 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.
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The present pair were formerly a group of five, which presumably once formed part of a full set of the Twelve Apostles. Previously localised in Kalkar (Boccador, 1974) the Apostles were published by Didier and Krohm (op. cit.) as Northern German works from Lübeck or Lüneburg. Compelling comparisons for the high cheekbones, stylised curls and angular drapery can be found, for example, in works by the Lübeck sculptor Bernt Notke (see Heise, op. cit., nos. 53-55).

RELATED LITERATURE
C. G. Heise, Lübecker Plastik, Bonn, 1926