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an image of a bronze statue of a man holding a dogstatue of a man with a cane and a hat on a wooden basestatue of a man holding a sword and a barrelstatue of a man in a robe holding a book and a canestatue of a man holding a bird on a wooden pedestalstatue of a man holding a sword and a sword in his handan image of a statue of a woman with a hat on her head
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147 - A rare carving of Saint Martin on foot, in lime wood, with t…
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Estimate €10,000 - €12,000
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Description
A rare carving of Saint Martin on foot, in lime wood, with traces of polychromy; the back is partially hollowed out. Standing with his hips slightly turned out, he is clad in armour and a wide cloak, a corner of which he is about to cut off with his sword; his face has realistic features, with a fine nose and prominent cheekbones; a profusion of curly hair forms a sort of crown. Southern Germany, Ulm or Augsburg, attributed to Gregor Erhart (Ulm, c. 1465/70 – Augsburg, 1540), c. 1480–1500 Height: 102 cm Minor damage; earlier restoration work on the lower part of the plinth Trained in Ulm in the workshop of his father, Michael Erhart (active between 1469 and 1522), Gregor went on to pursue his career in Augsburg, where he is first mentioned in 1494.  An accomplished sculptor, he worked in both bronze and stone and collaborated with other Augsburg masters on numerous altarpieces. However, the Virgin of Mercy from the Kaisheim altarpiece in Bavaria, the only work definitively attributed to him, was unfortunately lost in 1945. Art historians have therefore sought to compile a body of sculptures that can be attributed to him. It is generally agreed that his style, inherited from his father’s, is characterised by a particular harmony and gentleness, which the famous Mary Magdalene in the Louvre embodies to perfection (inv. RF 1338). This Saint Martin in armour, ready to perform his act of charity – originally depicted standing rather than on horseback – thus displays a peaceful grace characterised by great restraint. Provenance: - Collection of Eugène von Miller zu Aicholz (1835–1919), Vienna  - Collection of Camillo Castiglioni (1879–1957), Vienna (Auction, Amsterdam, 13–15 July 1926, Ant. W. M. Mensing, Camillo Castiglioni Collection, Vienna, lot 128, p. 35, Master from Southern Germany, Tyrol, c. 1500) - Jean Bruchet Collection, Belgium Bibliography: - Exhibition: ‘Martin of Tours: From Legionnaire to Holy Bishop’. Liège, 1994, cat. 13, pp. 128–129 Work consulted: - S. Guillot de Suduiraut, Devotion and Seduction – Swabian Sculptures in French Museums, c. 1460–1530, Paris, 2015, pp. 162–166. Expert: Ms Laurence FLIGNY
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About the sale PAINTINGS – ASIA – FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART
Auction location
Auction time 10/28/2026 at 2:15 PM
Pictures credits:
SDV Chinon
See original version (French)
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