Attributed to The Master of the Holy Blood. Death of Lucretia

oil on panel. 61 by 45.6 cm.; 24 by 17 3/4 in. Estimate 10,000—15,000 GBP - Lot sold 12,500 GBP

NOTE: The Master of the Holy Blood (or Maître de Saint-Sang) was the name given to the anonymous master who painted a triptych of the Lamentation in the possession of the Confraternity of the Holy Blood in Bruges. Friedländer has suggested that the artist received his training in Antwerp as he shows a close knowledge of the work of Quentin Metsys. The master appears to have produced most of his work, however, in Bruges where his output shows the influence of his fellow townsmen Gerard David, Ambrosius Benson and Jan Provost.¹

Friedländer lists several autograph versions of the Lucretia, including a version formerly in the collection of Professor Matsch in Vienna with which the present painting is possibly identifiable.² The composition of the present work also relates closely to two further autograph versions; the first is in Brussels, Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, inv. no. 6900 and the other was sold New York, Sotheby's, 25 May 2000, lot 14.³

1. For further discussions on the artist, see M. J. Friedländer, Early Netherlandish Painting, ed. 1974, vol. IXb, pp. 98-98, and Primitifs flamands anonymes, exh. cat., Bruges 1969, pp. 74-87 & 233-33.
2. See M.J. Friedländer, 1974, op. cit., p. 120, cat. no. 217a, reproduced pl. 207, as "Present location unknown".

3. For the Brussels version see Primitifs flamands anonymes, op. cit., p. 86, cat. no. 38, reproduced.

Sotheby's. Old Master Paintings. 04 Dec 08. London courtesy Sotheby's. www.sothebys.com