Nuremberg circa 1520/1525
A Nuremberg carved wooden figure of the Virgin and Child, circa 1520/1525.
Probably limewood, carved three-quarters in the round, the reverse flattened and deeply hollowed out. Minimal remains of former polychromy.. A figure of the Virgin holding the Christ Child in Her left arm, designed for a frontal viewpoint. She stands with Her left foot extended and placed upon the crescent moon, Her extended right hand is visibly reattched or possibly replaced. The sculpture's composition presents a slightly simplified version of the general scheme of Veit Stoss' Nuremberg works (for example the "Hausmadonna aus der Wunderburggasse" of 1520 kept in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg) and those of his pupils (for example the "Madonna des Marienkrönungsaltars aus Heilbronn" around 1520/25, ibid). A further indicator of this connection is the "FVS" monogram (with a double-barred cross above the V) which was probably carved later into the right side of the Virgin's gown to indicate Veit Stoss.
The Virgin's midsection with the fanning pleats separately worked. A small breakage to the rounded fold in the lower right with an older backing. Minor wear. With slightly glossy lacquer varnish throughout. Height 112 cm.
Provenance
Ulrich Hofstätter art dealers, Vienna. - Lempertz auction 874, Cologne, 21.5.2005, lot 815. - Subsequently in a South German private collection.
Literature
For comparable pieces cf. exhib. cat.: "Veit Stoß in Nürnberg. Werke des Meisters und seiner Schule in Nürnberg und Umgebung", ed. by Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg, Munich 1983, p. 158-162 & 176-181, cat. no. 10 & 14, illus.