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MASTER AG (ALBRECHT GLOCKENDON) (after Schongauer)

The SecondWise Virgin

.

Engraving, circa 1480-90. 116x78 mm; 4

5

/

8

x3

1

/

8

inches. Ex-collection Albert van Loock

(Lugt 3751, verso).A superb, richly-inked and early impression of this very scarce engraving,

with strong contrasts and no sign of wear, consistent with the earliest impressions.

The British Museum, London, impression of this subject illustrated in

The Illustrated Bartsch

is weak and, according to

The Illustrated Bartsch Commentary

,“No impression is of the first

quality.”We have not found another impression at auction in the past 30 years.

Schongauer’s (circa 1445-1491) series of 10 engravings of the

Wise and FoolishVirgins

(Master

AG’s engravings are contemporaneous) illustrate the parable in Matthew 25:1-13.According

to the story, heaven is likened to the house of a bridegroom.The 5 wise virgins, anticipating

that they might have to await the groom, have brought enough oil to keep their lamps

burning; they are shown by the artist holding their burning lamps with outstretched arms,

facing to the right, with pleasant expressions and with their wedding wreaths on their heads.

In contrast, the foolish virgins (see following lot), unprepared for their grooms’ delay, have

allowed their oil to run out and have had to go off to buy more. On their return, the

bridegroom’s door was shut to them. They are shown with downcast expressions, their

wedding wreaths on the ground, holding extinguished lamps and facing left. The wise

virgins, ready for their grooms, are like the righteous in their preparedness for entry into

heaven. Bartsch 19; Lehrs 22.

[8,000/12,000]

1

MARTIN SCHONGAUER

St. Peter

.

Engraving, 1481. 89x44 mm; 3

1

/

2

x1

3

/

4

inches.

Ex-collection J.E. Wetterauer (Lugt 3870,

verso).With thread margins or trimmed on

the plate mark.A superb, dark impression of

this extremely scarce, early engraving with all

the details distinct and with strong contrasts.

We have found only 6 other impressions at

auction in the past 30 years. Bartsch 34;

Lehrs 41.

[3,000/5,000]

1