Description:

Greece, Ionian Islands, ca. late 17th century CE. reek triptych, “Second Coming of Christ,” painted colors over gold foil on wood, comprising carved and gilded central frame, with similarly decorated flat wood side shutters. Post- Byzantine; Venetian-held territory, most likely Corfu in the Ionian Islands. Central panel 4½ wide x 5-5/8 high, opening to 8¾ wide. Colors include red, darkest blue, and umber. Central composition: Last Judgment, or the Second Coming of Christ. Depicting Christ enthroned, sitting beneath an archway, within wreath inscribed in red letters, with feet on globe of the world. Standing beneath, ten apostles and bishops framing Saints Constantine and Helen. Painted in red, green, and black on a sheet of gold, within wooden arch supported by columns, these also gilded. Viewer’s left panel: Adoration of the Magi. “The Nativity of Christ” inscribed in Greek majuscule. Mary seated, holding the Christ Child, with Joseph standing behind her. One of the Magi kneels before her presenting a gift, while the other two look on. A star shines from above, with a group of angels in red looking upon the scene. Viewer’s right panel: Crucifixion. Christ hanging on the cross, between a red sun and dark moon. Mary, Joseph/John the Baptist(?) and others kneel with their backs to the cross. As in the other sections, red-winged angels look down from above. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. #109351

  • Provenance: Ex-private O'Keefe collection, New Jersey, ex-private Roebling family collection, two of whose members designed and built the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • Condition: Gold expertly conserved, but item not cleaned, the darkened color pigments and wood’s beaded detail especially showing centuries of exposure to oil lamps, a patina which cannot be replicated. Under an ordinary table lamp or flashlight, the principal colors emerge; the red especially shows as the reddest of reds, with a pure hue rarely seen even in mediæval manuscripts. Side panels held with crude link hinges, all very old, at least one and possibly all original. Some modest chipping at lower edges of side panels, left door somewhat warped with grain, probably from being open for hundreds of years, else very good.

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July 31, 2015 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000