A carved wood Nativity relief, studio of Tilm ..., Geburt Christi

A carved wood Nativity relief, studio of Tilman Riemenschneider

Pierced relief, flattened to the reverse. Partially overpainted older polychromy. The composition of this relief is based on an engraving by Martin Schongauer made in around 1475 (Lehrs 5). The sculptor has here transferred the central perspective of the copperplate into a two-dimensional image. A further relief with this motif, this time stripped of the polychromy, is housed in the Mainfränkisches Museum in Würzburg (inv. no. A 32701) and can be dated to around 1510. It is highly comparable to the present work both in overall composition and in details. Ludmila Kvapilová-Klüsener has confirmed the present relief to be the product of Riemenschneider's workshop, dating it slightly earlier around 1500/1505.

The Child's right foot lacking. Some vertical hairline cracks. The reverse backed with canvas. Minimal wear. 68 x 56 x 3.5 cm. Certificate

Dr. Ludmila Kvapilová-Klüsener, Bamberg 15.5.2018. Provenance

Private ownership, Germany.