Master from Konstanz. 1517. Christ's farewell to his mother before leaving for Jerusalem.

Epitaph for the Konstanz patrician Ulrich Blarer who died in 1517. Inscription bottom right: «Anno 1517 am 10 tag / jenner verschidt der erber / und vest ulrich pf(?)arer / von kostnitz des und / aller sellen sey der / almechtig got fenedig / und parmhertzig» Oil/Tempera on wood. Parquetted. 128 x 106cm. Framed. Estimation : 35 000 €

Provenance:
- Auction Helbing, Munich 30. June 1898, No. 74;
- Municipal Museum of Ulm (1925), presumably as permanent loan.

Literature:
Erster Berich des Museums der Stadt Ulm 1925. In: Baum, J. (Ed.): Ulmer Schriften zur
Kunstgeschichte, Ulm 1925, p. 22f under the no. 5423 as Oberschwäbisch 1517, Fig. 9 (here still with the later re-painting and the inscription bottom right)

Expertise:
- Dr. Bernd Konrad, Radolfzell 23.07.2008;
- Ludwig Meyer, Munich 08.08.2007.

Ludwig Meyer mentions an earlier attribution to the Nördling painter Hans Schäufelein (ca. 1482-1539/40), to which the work shows a close relation, yet from a present day perspective however, can not be attributed to.

The basis of the painting at hand lies in two woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer. The kneeling Mary from a clear side view and the main figures themselves up to the drapery can be traced back to the similarly titled depiction from the so-called «Kleine Passion» of 1509/11. The two standing Marys, however, follows the composition of the similarly titled woodcut from the Life of the Virgin of 1504. The theme of the farewell of Christ to his mother was not unusual for epitaphs as memory image.

Right, in the larger picture detail, a view onto the city can be seen which in the lower area resembles to quite an extent the medieval city of Konstanz. The crest with the red crowing cock (blaring) refers to the family Blarer, who lived over many generations in Konstanz, took part as patricians and merchants, partners and craftsmen in the Ravensburg commercial society.

Vente du Vendredi 21 novembre 2008. Peintures et Sculptures Anciennes et du XIXe Siècle. Van Ham - Cologne - Allemagne