In late 15th century style, Mary ascending to Heaven in the foreground with her arms crossed, dressed in a white and blue garment, wrapped in a red cloak; surrounded by four angels in white embroidered robes, covered by red, green and gold mantles; on the background the grave of Mary surrounded by vegetal ornaments; inscription at the bottom in medieval Flemish ‘DE HEMELVAART VAN MARIA’ (the Assumption of Mary) in uncial letters; some restoration. [No Reserve]

PROVENANCE:
From a war-damaged church in Belgium.
Ex property of a late Northumberland collector.
From a private collection, Derbyshire, UK.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

LITERATURE:
Cf. similar scene in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession no.41.190.457, Assumption of the Virgin, stained glass from Jan Rombouts, circa 1505, in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bulletin 1971-January 1972, New York, 1972, p.52.

FOOTNOTES:
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven is a dogma of faith of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which Mary at the end of her earthly life went to Heaven in body and soul. According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the Assumption of Mary was preceded by a deep sleep (Dormitio Virginis): but the Dormition of Mary is not the object of dogma, while her glorification in body and soul is an integral part of the faith of the Catholic Church.