South German, circa 1520

Private Collection, South Germany;

With Senger Bamberg Kunsthandel, Bamberg, 27 June 2022;

From whom acquired.

This relief depicts the Annunciation, the moment in which the archangel Gabriel reveals to Mary that she will conceive and bear the Son of God. A vase of lilies rests at Gabriel’s feet, alluding to Mary’s purity, while Mary's hand rests upon her devotional book signifying her piety; Gabriel raises his right hand in the traditional gesture of blessing, underscoring his role as a celestial messenger.

This relief reflects the sculptural traditions of Southern Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Virgin's distinct physiognomy, marked by her pinched chin, softly modelled oval face, and downcast, hooded eyes, find close parallels with contemporaneous regional masters. These features, together with the sharply articulated and rhythmically arranged drapery folds, exemplify a pretense for linear elegance and sculptural clarity associated with artists, such as Tilman Riemenschneider and his circle.