Saint Catherine of Alexandria: left wing of a triptych

The artist has been tentatively identified as Hendrik van Wueluwe, who was active in Antwerp from 1483 until his death there in 1533. The Master's hand was originally identified by, and named for, two paintings commissioned by Frankurt patrons: the great altarpiece of The Holy Kinship for the Dominican church in Frankfurt (Frankfurt, Historisches Museum; inv. no. 261), and the Crucifixion triptych (Frankfurt, Städelsches Kunstinstitut; inv. no. 715) for the Frankfurt patrician family of Claus Humbracht (1440-1504), whose son was resident in Antwerp by 1503. It is possible that the artist visited Frankfurt, but his having painted on oak panels probably precludes his actually having painted there.

Stylistically, the Master of Frankfurt's oeuvre is connected with the work of Hugo van der Goes, and it is interesting that Van Wuelewe may have originally come from Woluwe, where Van der Goes lived at the end of his life. The Master's earliest known works include some of the earliest documented from that city, and, with his large workshop, he is recognised as one of the founders of the Antwerp school: an eminence that accords with Van Wuelewe's having been Dean of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke six times, as well as having had at least seven known apprentices.

The right wing from the same altarpiece as the present picture depicts Saint Barbara and was sold in these Rooms, 21 July 1972, lot 139 (see fig. 1).