EARLY 16TH CENTURY

Details

A NETHERLANDISH OAK GROUP DEPICTING THE BETROTHAL OF MARY AND JOSEPH
EARLY 16TH CENTURY
The young Virgin Mary and Joseph stand facing each other and holding hands before a religious figure wearing ceremonial dress who holds the couple's hands together with one hand and gestures with the other, they are flanked on either side by elders as well as Saint Anne and probably Saint Elizabeth, on an integrally carved base
23 in. (58.5 cm.) high, 19 in. (49 cm.) wide

Provenance

By descent from Mr. Valentin Weisbach.
Gift of Professor Gunnar Dybwad.
Property of a New England Institution, sold Christie's, New York, 30 March 1999, lot 32.

Lot Essay

Represented in this figural group are Mary and the elderly Joseph at center, their hands joined by the High Priest, Zacharias. As is typical to Northern scenes of the Marriage, the Virgin's parents, Anna and Joachim, are included flanking the couple to afford a sense of domestic propriety. Behind them and on either side of Zacharias are the rejected suitors.

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