Lot 9
Attributed to Christoph Amberger (born circa 1490 - died circa 1562)
Lot 9 Details
Attributed to Christoph Amberger (born circa 1490 - died circa 1562), German
PORTRAIT OF A TOWNSMAN, HEAD-AND-SHOULDERS (TO THE LEFT) WEARING A BLACK CLOTH CAP, BLACK CLOAK AND RUFFLED COLLAR, BEFORE A GREEN BACKGROUND
Oil on cradled oak panel. Accompanied by four letters of opinion (“Gutachten”) appraising the work written in German including documents by:
Dr. Ernst Wengenmayr Kunsthistoriker, dated at Munchen, October 7, 1961;
Professor Emerich Schaffran, dated at Vienna, June, 16, 1961;
Adolf Bangel, dated at Frankfurt Am Main, October 23, 1961; and Dr. Heinrich Zimmermann, dated at Tutzing, 12.11.61 attributing this work to Christoph Amberger (with artist’s dates, 1500-1561
15.25 x 12 in — 39 x 30.5 cm
Estimate $15,000-$25,000
Additional Images
Provenance:
The House of Hohenzollern Collection, Germany;
Ex. Collection, Wilhelm Pfeiffer, Germany and Canada, probably acquired in the early 1960s;
By descent to the present Private Collection, Heidelberg, Ontario
Note:
The scholarly opinions are consistent in regarding this painting as a characteristic work by, or attributed to, Christoph Amberger, one of the most important figure painters of that time (alongside Durer and Holbein.) Dr. Wengenmayr suggests the artist of this unknown man’s portrait can be associated with the Circle of Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1500-1559). Amberger painted under the influence of Leonhard Beck (circa 1480-1542), the German Northern Renaissance painter.