In late 15th century style, showing Mary and Elizabeth embracing on the foreground, both with covered heads and wearing a long tunica talaris with a cloak; their husbands Zacharias and Joseph behind dressed in long green robes, Joseph wearing a yellow cap and holding a pastoral staff; architectural background and inscription in medieval Flemish at the bottom 'BEZOEK VAN DE MAAGD MARIA AAN ELISABETH’ (the Visit of Virgin Mary to Elizabeth) 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 scenes in McNamara, In relation to sixteenth century Italian Visitation paintings, how far could Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, be considered as the forerunner of the Virgin Mary? London, 2015, figs.5-6-7-8.

FOOTNOTES:
The scene commemorates Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth after receiving the announcement that she would become the mother of Jesus (Luke, I, 39-45). In this guise, Mary is called Our Lady of the Visitation or Mary Most Holy of the Visitation.