Northern Germany or Netherlandish late 13th century
Carved oak figures of the Virgin and St John from a crucifixion, Northern Germany or Netherlands, late 13th century
Carved three-quarters in the round, the reverse flattened and the figure of St John hollowed out. With partially overpainted older polychromy. A pair of sculptures designed for a frontal and slightly lowered viewpoint. The figures' poses, gestures, and the slight inclination of the heads towards each other indicates that they once formed part of a crucifixion group. The design of the robes corresponds to the styleused in French art of the last quarter of the 13th century. However, the idiosyncratic accentuation of the heads and hands points to a different origin, Northern Germany, Westphalia or the Netherlands as Hartmut Krohm has suggested (op. cit.).
The tip of the Virgin's foot (formerly attached by a dowel) lacking, beside it a breakage to the front of the plinth, losses due to insect damage on the reverse, with two wooden pieces added for stability. The plinth of St. John with a wedge shaped addition to the front left. Minimal wear throughout. H of the Virgin 95 cm, John 92 cm.
Provenance
Former collection of Hermann Schwartz, Mönchengladbach.
Literature
Sammlung Hermann Schwartz, Mönchengladbach. Spätere Erwerbungen. Katalogbearbeitung durch die Skulpturengalerie SMPK Berlin, hg. v. Hermann Schwartz, Berlin, undated, p. 8-9 (Hartmut Krohm).