Description
103. Ecole flamande, XVIe siècle
Un triptyque : panneau central : Le Baptême du Christ ; panneau de gauche : La Vierge à l'Enfant ; panneau de droite : Saint Jean-Baptiste avec un donateur
a triptych, oil on panel
central panel: 39.5 x 28.6cm (15 9/16 x 11 1/4in) and each wing: 46.9 x 18.4cm (18 7/16 x 7 1/4in)
bears extensive inscription (lower centre, on the frame)
Provenance
Private Collection, The Netherlands
A later inscription at the base of the triptych records that the work was dedicated to Jan Knibbe, priest and canon of the collegiate church of Saint Walburga, Veurne (Furnes), who died on 6 March 1585. He probably belonged to the distinguished Knibbe family, one of the leading lineages of the castellany of Veurne, whose members held prominent civic and ecclesiastical offices from the Middle Ages onwards.
The donor is here shown in prayer before Saint John the Baptist, his patron saint, while a heraldic shield appears on the prie-dieu. Although its precise identity remains uncertain, the lion depicted in the arms was one of the most widespread heraldic motifs in the Southern Netherlands, where it was employed by numerous distinguished families. The inclusion of such heraldic devices underscores the commemorative function of the triptych and affirms the donor's social standing.
About the sale
Old Master and 19th Century Paintings
Auction location
Auction time
11/04/2026 at 1:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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