A Man and his Wife
Master of the Barbara Legend (fl.1470-1500)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1470 - 1499
Materials
Oil on panel (oak)
Measurements
507 x 395 x 50 mm
Place of origin
Brussels
Order this imageCollection
Upton House, Warwickshire
NT 446752
Caption
This double portrait probably formed the right half of a diptych. The left side would have shown a religious devotional image, such as the Virgin and / or Christ. As would befit an image of this type, the sitters are shown in contemplation. The man is at prayer, and the woman holds a rosary, which hangs from her belt. Its small size suggests that it would have been portable.
Summary
Oil painting with gold leaf background on oak panel, A Man and his Wife by Master of the Barbara Legend, active late 15th century. Probably the right wing of a diptych. Two half-length portraits seen at a window; the man faces to the left wearing a black cloak, red sleeves slashed with white, and black hat, his hands joined in prayer, with a open missal resting on the ledge in front of him. His wife stands at his left shoulder; she wears a plum coloured dress and scarlet bodice with black cuffs and lapels, a black hat with a veil falling to her shoulders; from her belt hangs a rosary which she fingers with both hands.
Provenance
With the van Dieman Gallery, Berlin, 1922 as Burgundian School, circa 1400; bought by Lord Bearsted from Knoelder for £2,300, as ' French Primitive: Double Portrait', in June 1925, though still referred to in Hulin de Loo's article as with London trade, 1926-29; given with Upton House to the National Trust by Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted (1882 – 1948) shortly before his death in 1948
Credit line
Upton House, The Bearsted Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Master of the Barbara Legend (fl.1470-1500), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Burgundian School, artist French School, artist
References
The Heritage of Rogier van der Weyden, Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium 12 October 2013 - 26 January 2014, 59
