Inv. 5704
Bode 1897: French, 14th century.
Koechlin 1924: France, 2nd third of 14th century.
Camps Cazorla 1949-1950: French, 14th century.
Camón Aznar 1951: Venetian or Sienese, 15th century.
Attribution
Unknown
Hinges
Two sets of three ring hinges on either side.
Polychromy - Gilding
Extensive gilding and polychromy: gold, green and red (painted decoration including medallions, trefoils and quatrefoils on the architectural framework and on the base which features a fleur-de-lys and swastikas), gold (patterns along the hems, hair and beards), black (shoes), red (clothes, inside the Virgin's veil, blood, lips), blue (lining of Christ's cloak, etc.).Painted inscription on the base of the Virgin's throne: 'AVE MARIA GRACIA'.
Reverse
Wooden case. Green paint. Labels with inscriptions: 'LARGE POLYPTYCH ALTAR/ French, XIV century/ Colln STEIN/ do HAINAUER 141', '26448'. Label with Hainauer monogram ('O h') and inscription: 'Eb. 12' (repeated on the lower moulding on the left side of the base).
Object Condition
Part of the crockets on the left hand-side gable of the centre panel, the left hand-side angel in the upper register of the centre panel and the wing of one of the angels have become detached.
Missing: part of the candle held by the angel to the left of the seated Virgin and Child; parts of the angels' wings. The pinnacles, colonnettes and parts of the Virgin's and of Christ's throne seem to be later replacements.
Comments
The background of the centre panel is decorated with a stippled gold pattern of foliage. Some inconsistencies in the iconography seem to indicate that some of the reliefs have been rearranged.
Provenance
Collection of Charles Stein, Paris (see label on the back): sale, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 1886, lot 23 (with ill.). Collection of Oscar Hainauer (b. 1840s?, d. 1894), Berlin (Inv. Eb. 12). Collection of José Lázaro Galdiano, Paris.
Bibliography
W. Bode, Die Sammlung Oscar Hainauer (Berlin, 1897), no. 141.
R. Koechlin, Les Ivoires gothiques français (Paris, 1924), I, p. 132; II, no. 174 (no location given).
E. Camps Cazorla, Inventario del Museo Lázaro Galdiano (1949-1950, unpublished).
J. Camón Aznar, Guía abreviada del Museo Lázaro Galdiano (Madrid, 1951), pp. 22-23.
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