Lot Essay
This is a fine example of the late Gothic sculptural style in Southern Germany. It is similar in type to the Madonna of the Hallstaff Marienaltar, which dates to circa 1510-20 (see E. Sauser, Der Hallstaffer Marienaltar von Meister Astl, Hallstaff, 1956). The attribution to Master Astl was first suggested by Melanie Clifford (From a J. Held seminar report, 18 May 1976).
The Virgin is depicted standing on a sickle of the moon with a man's face, which can be explained using the identification of the Virgin with the woman of the Apocalypse, 12:1: 'And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet...'. It was traditional in late medieval art to depict the Virgin standing on the moon, referring to both this passage and to the Song of Songs, 6:10: 'Fair as the moon'.
The Virgin is depicted standing on a sickle of the moon with a man's face, which can be explained using the identification of the Virgin with the woman of the Apocalypse, 12:1: 'And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet...'. It was traditional in late medieval art to depict the Virgin standing on the moon, referring to both this passage and to the Song of Songs, 6:10: 'Fair as the moon'.