GERMAN SCHOOL, 16TH CENTURY
A diptych: Scenes from the life of Saint George (recto); and The Annunciation (verso)
oil on panel, in an engaged frame
closed: 53⁵⁄₈ x 20⁷⁄₈ in. (136.2 x 53 cm.); open 53⁵⁄₈ x 42¹⁄₈ in. (136.2 x 107 cm.)
inscribed recto 'QVO SA CTVS GEOGIVS CAPADOVS GENERE FILLAM REGIS / SYLENE VT GENI ROSVS MILES A DRACONE LIBERAVTI.' (upper left); 'QVO S GEORGIVS FACVITATIBVS EGENIS DISTRIBVTIS / MILICIE RENVTIAVIT VTXPIANOS CONFORTARET' (centre left); 'QVO S GEORGIVS ARGVENS Y DOLATRAS DVCTVS EST / CORAM PPOSITOVT FIDE V PI COPELLERET VR ABNEGARET' (centre left); 'QVO FACTO SIGNO TER VENENV BIBIT SINE LESIONE / VNDE CONVERTIT INCATATOREM QVI LIVENENV DEDERAT' (lower left); 'QVO POSITVS FVPE SVPRA ROTAM GLADIIS CIRCVSEPTAM / A QVA VIRTVTE DIVINA LEDI NON POTVIT' (upper right); 'QVO POSITVS EST IN SARTAGINE PLONBO / LIQVEFACTO PLENA IQVA QVASI I BALNEO STETIT ILLESVS' (centre right); 'QVO DICTVS EST AD TEMPLVM Y DOLORVM / ET EO CRATE TEMPLV / CV / Y DOLIS ET SACERDOTIBVS FVLGVRE / PLHIIT' (centre right); and 'QVO S GEORGIVS CAPITIS OBTVNVEATIONE / GLORIOSVM MARTIRIVM CONSVMAVN' (lower right); and inscribed verso '·ECCE· ANCILLA · DOMINI · FIAT · MICHI · SCDM · VERBVM ·TVVM·' (centre left); and '·AVE · GRA · PLENA · DOMINUS ·TE· CVM·' (centre right)

Anonymous sale; Dorotheum, Vienna, 15 October 1996, lot 172, as 'Leonhard Beck', where acquired by Nikolaus and Alice Harnoncourt.

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

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Condition report

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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

The diptych is executed on two panels, each in an engaged frame. The two have been joined together to form a screen, with two hinges at upper and lower centre. The hinges post-date the lock which can still be seen to the centre left and centre right of the screen.

The engaged frame is made up of multiple panels. There are some minor losses to the frame of each panel at lower-centre, as viewed when open, and to the upper corners and lower right corner. There is some wear to the painted surface of the frames at the level of the hinges. Similarly wear to the frame at the level of the lock at centre left is noted. Overall the decorative scheme of the frame remains well-preserved.

Scenes from the life of Saint George (recto)

Examination in natural light reveals a fine and even pattern of craquelure across the surface, with some associated pin-prick losses. There is scattered retouching, notably to the browns of the background in the various compositions. The details of the figures remains well preserved. In the left-hand panel as viewed when open there is a scratch to the second scene of approximately 7cm with some associated paint loss. There is a streaky varnish that would benefit from a light clean. Examination under UV light reveals some strengthening to the details in the figures.

The Annunciation (verso)

Examination in natural light reveals a network of craquelure across the painting. There is a large loss associated with some tenting in the Angel Gabriel's ear. There is evidence of further tenting and historic losses with associated restoration in the upper portion of the angel's panel. Both panels have an old patchy varnish which carries some dirt. There is some scattered scratching that do not detract from the overall appreciation of the images. Examination under UV light confirms the above observations and reveals some further minor scattered retouching overall.

Print Report