A carved walnut retable fragment depicting the 'Coronation of the Virgin', Southern Netherlands, ca. 1480

H 35 x L 40 cm

Mary is seated at the right side of God the Father. Her hands clasped, she is wearing a crown resting on long wavy locks of hair falling over her shoulders. She's dressed with a loose coat over her dress, a flap of which comes back to the front forming very structured folds. God the Father holds his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing. He wears a tiara with three crowns whose baleen falls on the front of his shoulders; a section of his cape returns to his knees. There is a globe below his feet, possibly referring to his position above all earthly things.

Expert: Cabinet Benoît Bertrand