French School, late 15th Century

Christ carrying the Cross with Saint Veronica,
oil on panel, 44.5 x 32.5 cm, framed
Provenance:
Private collection, Switzerland, before 1973;
art market, Switzerland, 1978 (as Nuremberg Master, 16th Century);
sale, Christie’s, London, 9 July 1993, lot 247 (as German School, circa 1500);
art market, Switzerland, 2016 (as German School, 16th Century);
Private collection, Switzerland

An attribution to Josse Lieferinxe (documented in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence 1493–1505, died before 1508) or to an artist within his circle has been suggested by Michaela Schedl. She dates the painting to circa 1495. A copy of her certificate, dated 8 February 2020, accompanies this lot.

The South Netherlandish artist Josse Lieferinxe is generally accepted as the last successful representative of the School of Avignon. The artist is associated mainly with commissioned altarpieces in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence between 1493 and 1505. It is however known that he accepted a portrait commission for the Marseille merchant Barthélémy Capeau as well. The possibility exists that the artist trained with Jean Changenet in Avignon for a period of time since he married the daughter of the latter in 1503. Many of the artist’s documented works are currently untraceable which makes attributing works to his oeuvre difficult. Over the years a few works have been attributed to the artist based on stylistic similarities.