Lot 101: THE MASTER OF THE FEMALE HALF-LENGTHS

THE MASTER OF THE FEMALE HALF-LENGTHS ACTIVE IN ANTWERP DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 16TH CENTURY VIRGIN AND CHILD SEATED BEFORE A LECTERN oil on oak panel 39.5 by 28.9 cm.; 15 1/2 by 11 1/2 in.

Acquired by Luis Carabe Palacios from the Marques de Aracena, Palacio de Sanchez- Dalp, Seville;
Thence by family descent.

The intimate design of this Virgin and Child exists in only one further work by the master, in reverse, in a panel sold London, Christie's, 11 December 1987, lot 60. The design derives from one by Barend van Orley, a common source of inspiration for this master.υ1 In Van Orley's prototypes, which are both set before a landscape, the Child sits slightly more upright with His raised hand turned inwards rather than outwards, while the Virgin's supporting hand extends further around the Child's body. Unique in his oeuvre, the master has here wrapped the Virgin's head in a scarf which, in concept at least if not in its arrangement, also follows the Van Orley original. Equally uncommon is the interior setting; usually reserved for his single female figures reading or writing, the master has here exceptionally placed the Virgin and Child in a study.υ2

An exact, later, copy of the present work was sold, Lucerne, Fischer, 12 June 2002, lot 319.

1. In reverse; see the work formerly with Kleinberger, New York, 1929, and in the Murray sale, Berlin, Cassirer and Helbing, 6-7 November 1929, lot 318 (both Witt Library Mounts).
2. Only one further such instance seems to exist; sold Monaco, Christie's, 4 December 1993, lot 10.