The Master with the Parrot (active in Antwerp... Lot 36

The Master with the Parrot (active in Antwerp in the middle of the 16th century) Virgin breastfeeding Panel, one board not parqueted 37,5 x 28 cm Labels on the back The Master with the Parrot is a conventional name given by Max J. Friedländer to a painter active in Antwerp during the first half of the 16th century, who was close to Pieter Coecke van Aelst and to the so-called master of the "half-figures". He owes his title to this bird, which is present in some of his works. Our painting represents the Virgin and Child in an intimate way. The Virgin wears a blue dress and a red mantle. She is holding the Christ child against her bare breast, after nursing. The transparency of the Virgin's veil, revealing her ear and her delicate hair, testify to the artist's virtuosity. Her face, more precisely her small mouth with full lips, is also characteristic of his works. Several versions of this composition attributed to the master with the parrot are known, with many variations, in the position of the child, asleep or awake, and sometimes with the presence of Saint Joseph in the background. This lot is described by the Cabinet Turquin.