THE MASTER OF HALF-FIGURES (Active between 1500 and 1550) - Lot 21

Lot 21
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40000 - 80000 EUR
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THE MASTER OF HALF-FIGURES (Active between 1500 and 1550) - Lot 21
THE MASTER OF HALF-FIGURES (Active between 1500 and 1550) Mary Magdalene writing Oak panel, one board, reinforced. 43.2 x 32.5 cm. Provenance: Steinmeyer, London and Paris, 1912; Julius Böhler, Munich, 1953; Sale from the M.X. collection, Paris, Galerie Charpentier (Maître Maurice Rheims), December 3, 1959, no. 13. Bibliography: M.-J. Friedländer, Die Altniederländische Malerei, 1935, vol. XII, p. 99, no. 93, reproduced on plate 43 (Le Maître des Demi-Figures). The Master of the Half-Figures was an anonymous artist active in the first half of the 16th century, in Mechelen during the reign of Marguerite of Austria. His name, given by art historians, comes from his habit of depicting women in bust form, often dressed in rich garments, with smooth, enamel-like materials, and whose work, imbued with an ideal grace, represents a peaceful universe. He is credited with a style characterized by meticulous realism, fine textures and attention to detail. His oval-headed women have lowered eyes, fine eyebrows and a straight bridge of the nose. Their hair, divided by a central parting, is often pulled up into braids and partially covered by a transparent veil. They are frequently placed in front of windows opening onto landscapes, demonstrating a mastery of perspective and a delicate use of light.
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