Lot Essay
The compostition of the present lot follows that of the central compartment of the triptych in the Girl's Orphanage (St Nicolaas Godshuis), Antwerp. The triptych was moved in the 19th century from its original location in the chapel of the St Anna Godshuis (demolished in 1881). This charitable foundation, which housed twelve pious and impoverished elderly ladies, was built in 1601 by Rodriquez d'Evora (1543-1618) and his wife Anna Lopes Ximines (1571-?). Members of a noble Antwerp family of Portugese Jewish origin, they were depicted on the wings of Van Veen's altarpiece, see Maagdenhuismuseum Het Sint-Anna drieluik: restauratie en presentatie in de hernieuwde Rubenszaal, 1993, p.33, ill.17.