Hans Memling (active 1465-d.1494)

The Property of the Late ROBERT CLARKE, Sold by Order of the Executors

Details

Hans Memling (active 1465-d.1494)

The Virgin and Child enthroned with two Angels

on marouflaged(?) panel

27 x 20½in. (68.5 x 52cm.)

Provenance

Acquired by Stephenson Clarke c.1890 and by descent to the late owner

Literature

M. J. Friedländer, Repertorium für Kunstwissenschaft, 1903, p.83 K. Voll, Memling (Klassiker der Kunst), Stuttgart and Leipzig, 1909, p.175, illustrated p.143
M. J. Friedländer, Die Altniederländische Malerei, VI, Leyden, 1934, p.133, no.100
G. T. Faggin, L'opera completa di Memling, Milan, 1969, no.77,
illustrated
M. J. Friedländer, Early Netherlandish Painting, VI, ed. N. Veronée-Verhaegen, Leyden and Brussels, 1971, Part I, p.58, no.100, and pl.126

Exhibited

London, Royal Academy, Works by the Old Masters, Jan.-March 1891, no.167
London, Burlington Fine Arts Club, Early Flemish Painting, 1892, no.23
London, New Gallery, Winter Exhibition, 1899-1900, no.54
Bruges, Les Primitifs Flamands, 1902, no.82
London, Grosvenor Gallery, Second National Loan Exhibition: Woman and Child in Art, 1913-14
London, Royal Academy, Flemish Art 1300-1700, 5 Dec. 1953-6 March 1954, no.42, as School of Hans Memlinc
Bruges, Musée Communal Groeninge, L'Art Flamand dans les Collections Britanniques et de la Galerie Nationale de Victoria, 1 Aug.-16 Sept. 1956, no.11 and pl.8
Manchester, Art Treasures Centenary: European Old Masters, 30 Oct.-31 Dec. 1957, no.36

Lot Essay

While Friedländer expressed a measure of uncertainty about the attribution, describing the present picture as 'perhaps by an imitator', it has recently been confirmed by D. de Vos, Curator of the Stedelijke Musea, Bruges, who intends to illustrate the painting in colour in his forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the work of Memling to be published by Mercatorfonds, Antwerp. In a letter of 2 June 1992, he also points out that through the paint of the right hand of the Virgin one can see traces of very sketchy underdrawing typical of the artist's work.

For the collecting activities of Stephenson Clarke, see the note above lot 93

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