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Seated female saint
Maker
Workshop of
Hugo van der Goes (artist)
1440-1482
Hugo van der Goes (artist)
1440-1482
Title
Seated female saint
Date of Production
(circa) 1475 - 1485
Medium
black chalk, pen, point of the brush and brown ink, white bodycolour, on green prepared laid paper, laid down (examined under VSC with Paper Conservator)
Dimensions
Height: 23 cm
Width: 18.9 cm
Width: 18.9 cm
Accession Number
D.1978.PG.314
Mode of Acquisition
Count Antoine Seilern, bequest, 1978
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
The delicate modelling with light and shade matches the exquisite appearance of this virgin saint. Although she lacks an identifying attribute, she was almost certainly conceived as Saint Catherine of Alexandria, shown touching the finger on which the Christ Child placed a ring in the vision she had of their mystic marriage. The figure recurs frequently in early Netherlandish art. Indeed, this drawing is itself a copy of a lost original: faint marks indicate that it was made using a tracing. Beautifully preserved, it seems to have been treasured as a rare collector’s item.
Notes
Infrared analysis reveals a precise black chalk underdrawing which is followed exactly by the artist, a method typical of a copyist. The figure served as a model for more than twenty panel paintings and thirteen miniatures during van der Goes's lifetime, the earliest from about 1480, the latest towards the end of the 16th century. The Saint has alternatively been identified as Barbara, Ursula (Farr 1987) and Catherine (Buck 2002). In the latter, Buck argued the copyist misunderstood the ring-touching gesture of the prototype, Saint Catherine, and in this copy omitted this attribute that would render the saint as Catherine.
Provenance
an Italian collection, 18th century (based on verso inscription); private collection, France (according to Friedländer 1935); Ludwig Rosenthal, later known as Lewis V. Randall, Berne then Montreal (1893-1972), by 1935; his sale, Sotheby's (London), 10 May 1961, lot 4; purchased there via Colnaghi (London) by Count Antoine Seilern, London (1901-1978) (£30,000); Princes Gate Bequest 1978
Exhibition History
Hugo van der Goes, Gemaldegalerie, Berlin, 31/03/2023-16/07/2023
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Frick Collection, New York, 02/10/2012-27/01/2013
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 14/06/2012-09/09/2012 ...More
Illuminating the Renaissance - The Triumph of Flemish Manuscript
Painting in Europe, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 25/11/2003-22/02/2004
Material Evidence, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/10/1998-24/01/1999
Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992
The Princes Gate Collection - Drawings (Selection B), The Courtauld Gallery, London, 29/01/1982-25/07/1982
Drawing - Technique and Purpose, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 28/01/1981-26/04/1981
One hundred Master Drawings, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, MA, 1949
L'art flamand: de Van Eyck à Bruegel, Orangerie, Paris, 11/1935-12/1935 ...Less
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Frick Collection, New York, 02/10/2012-27/01/2013
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 14/06/2012-09/09/2012 ...More
Illuminating the Renaissance - The Triumph of Flemish Manuscript
Painting in Europe, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 25/11/2003-22/02/2004
Material Evidence, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/10/1998-24/01/1999
Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992
The Princes Gate Collection - Drawings (Selection B), The Courtauld Gallery, London, 29/01/1982-25/07/1982
Drawing - Technique and Purpose, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 28/01/1981-26/04/1981
One hundred Master Drawings, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, MA, 1949
L'art flamand: de Van Eyck à Bruegel, Orangerie, Paris, 11/1935-12/1935 ...Less
Literature
Stephan Kemperdick, Erik Eising, Hugo van der Goes: Between Pain and Bliss exhibition catalogue, Gemäldegalerie Staatliche Museum zu Berlin, 2023.
cat. no. 31
pp. 63-69, 242-44, 286-88
ill. on p. 243
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, Frick Collection, New York and Courtauld Gallery, London London 2012-2013
no. 4
ill. on p. 49
Day, Richard, Artful Tales. The Unlikely and Implausible Journal of an Art Dealer, 1957 to 1997, published privately 2008
pp. 56-57 ...More
Schefer, Jean Louis, Une maison de peinture, Brussels 2004
p. 317
ill. on p. 72
Buck, Stephanie, 'The impact of Hugo van der Goes as a draftsman' in 'Master Drawings', 2003 - pp. 228-39; 41, 3
pp. 229-35
fig. 2
as 'Workshop of van der Goes', and explained; identifies saint as Catherine
Early Netherlandish drawings from Jan van Eyck to Hieronymous Bosch, Rubenshuis, Antwerp, 2002
p. 124
fig. 5
entry author: Frits Koreny; as 'Circle or Studio of Van der Goes'
Martens, D., 'Transmission et métamorphose d'un modèle. La descendance au XVIème siècle de la "Virgo inter virgines" attribué à Hugo van der Goes' in 'Annales de la Société Royale d'Archéologie de Bruxelles', 2002 - pp. 105-88; 65
pp. 116-18
fig. 8
Buck, Stephanie, Die niederländischen Zeichnungen des 15. Jahrhunderts im Berliner Kupferstichkabinett. Kritischer Katalog., Turnhout 2001
pp. 144, 170
fig. 49
Material Evidence, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1998-1999
cat. no. (not numbered)
Dhanens, Elisabeth, Hugo van der Goes, Antwerp, 1998
p. 105
Martens, D., 'Entre l'Italie et les Flandres. "La Virgo inter virgines" de Hans Holbein l'Ancien et ses sources' in 'Revue de l'Art', 1997 - pp. 36-47; 117
p. 39
fig. 5
Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1991
cat. no. 37
pp. 82, 181
ill. on p. 83
Sander, Jochen, '"The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel": Hugo van der Goes' Drawing at Christ Church, Oxford' in 'Master Drawings', Spring 1989 - pp. 39-52; 27, 1
p. 49 note 2
Farr, Dennis, 100 Masterpieces from the Courtauld Collections, London: Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1987
p. 122
ill. on p. 123
Campbell, Lorne, The early Flemish pictures in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, London 1985
pp. 49-50
The Princes Gate Collection - Drawings (Selection B), The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1982
cat. no. 167
no. 167
Drawing - Technique and Purpose, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1981
cat. no. 197
no. 197
Reynolds, C., 'London. Courtauld Institute Galleries: Early Netherlandish works in the Princes Gate Collection' in 'Burlington Magazine', 1981 - pp. 562-64; 123, 942
p. 563
fig. 73
Byam Shaw, James, Drawings by Old Masters at Christ Church, Oxford, Oxford 1976
p. 320
Seilern, Count Antoine, Corrigenda and Addenda to the Catalogue of paintings and drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London, London 1971
no. 314
Geraldine Keen, The Sale of Works of Art: a study based on the Times-Sotheby Index, London 1971
p. 114
Friedländer, Max J., Early Netherlandish painting, New York 1969
vol. 4, supp. III, p. 85
pl. 45
Seilern, Count Antoine, Flemish paintings and drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London SW7. Addenda, London 1969; IV
no. 314
pls. XXVI, XXVII
Winkler, Friedrich, Das Werk des Hugo van der Goes, Berlin 1964
pp. 165-66, 172-80, 267
Sotheby's, London, Catalogue of important Old Master drawings. The property of L.V. Randall, Esq. of Montreal. First Part, 10 May 1961
lot 4
ill. as colour pl.
'£30,000 paid for a nine-inch drawing. Van der Goes work creates record' in 'The Times', 11 May 1961
p. 6
ill. on p. 6
Panofsky, Erwin, Early Netherlandish painting, Cambridge, MA 1953
vol. I, pp. 334 note 3, 500
Mathey, Jacques, Bildnis und Gestalt der Frau in Meisterzeichnungen aus fünf Jahrhunderten., Holbein-Verlag, Basel 1951
p. 9 and no. 14 on p. 18
ill. on p. 48
Mongan, Agnes, 100 Master Drawings, Harvard University Press 1949
cat. no. 16
ill.
Wescher, Paul, 'Sanders and Simon Bening and Gerard Horenbout', Art Quarterly, 9, 1946, pp. 191-211
pl. 99
Friedländer, Max J., Die altniederländische Malerei / 14. Pieter Bruegel und Nachtrag zu früheren Bänden, Berlin 1937
p. 93
Dupont, Jacques, 'Quelques dessins flamands', Arts et métiers graphiques, 9, 1936
p. 21
Friedländer, Max J., 'Eine Zeichnung von Hugo van der Goes' in 'Pantheon', 1935 - pp. 99-104; 15
pp. 98-100 ...Less
cat. no. 31
pp. 63-69, 242-44, 286-88
ill. on p. 243
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, Frick Collection, New York and Courtauld Gallery, London London 2012-2013
no. 4
ill. on p. 49
Day, Richard, Artful Tales. The Unlikely and Implausible Journal of an Art Dealer, 1957 to 1997, published privately 2008
pp. 56-57 ...More
Schefer, Jean Louis, Une maison de peinture, Brussels 2004
p. 317
ill. on p. 72
Buck, Stephanie, 'The impact of Hugo van der Goes as a draftsman' in 'Master Drawings', 2003 - pp. 228-39; 41, 3
pp. 229-35
fig. 2
as 'Workshop of van der Goes', and explained; identifies saint as Catherine
Early Netherlandish drawings from Jan van Eyck to Hieronymous Bosch, Rubenshuis, Antwerp, 2002
p. 124
fig. 5
entry author: Frits Koreny; as 'Circle or Studio of Van der Goes'
Martens, D., 'Transmission et métamorphose d'un modèle. La descendance au XVIème siècle de la "Virgo inter virgines" attribué à Hugo van der Goes' in 'Annales de la Société Royale d'Archéologie de Bruxelles', 2002 - pp. 105-88; 65
pp. 116-18
fig. 8
Buck, Stephanie, Die niederländischen Zeichnungen des 15. Jahrhunderts im Berliner Kupferstichkabinett. Kritischer Katalog., Turnhout 2001
pp. 144, 170
fig. 49
Material Evidence, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1998-1999
cat. no. (not numbered)
Dhanens, Elisabeth, Hugo van der Goes, Antwerp, 1998
p. 105
Martens, D., 'Entre l'Italie et les Flandres. "La Virgo inter virgines" de Hans Holbein l'Ancien et ses sources' in 'Revue de l'Art', 1997 - pp. 36-47; 117
p. 39
fig. 5
Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1991
cat. no. 37
pp. 82, 181
ill. on p. 83
Sander, Jochen, '"The Meeting of Jacob and Rachel": Hugo van der Goes' Drawing at Christ Church, Oxford' in 'Master Drawings', Spring 1989 - pp. 39-52; 27, 1
p. 49 note 2
Farr, Dennis, 100 Masterpieces from the Courtauld Collections, London: Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1987
p. 122
ill. on p. 123
Campbell, Lorne, The early Flemish pictures in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, London 1985
pp. 49-50
The Princes Gate Collection - Drawings (Selection B), The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1982
cat. no. 167
no. 167
Drawing - Technique and Purpose, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1981
cat. no. 197
no. 197
Reynolds, C., 'London. Courtauld Institute Galleries: Early Netherlandish works in the Princes Gate Collection' in 'Burlington Magazine', 1981 - pp. 562-64; 123, 942
p. 563
fig. 73
Byam Shaw, James, Drawings by Old Masters at Christ Church, Oxford, Oxford 1976
p. 320
Seilern, Count Antoine, Corrigenda and Addenda to the Catalogue of paintings and drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London, London 1971
no. 314
Geraldine Keen, The Sale of Works of Art: a study based on the Times-Sotheby Index, London 1971
p. 114
Friedländer, Max J., Early Netherlandish painting, New York 1969
vol. 4, supp. III, p. 85
pl. 45
Seilern, Count Antoine, Flemish paintings and drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London SW7. Addenda, London 1969; IV
no. 314
pls. XXVI, XXVII
Winkler, Friedrich, Das Werk des Hugo van der Goes, Berlin 1964
pp. 165-66, 172-80, 267
Sotheby's, London, Catalogue of important Old Master drawings. The property of L.V. Randall, Esq. of Montreal. First Part, 10 May 1961
lot 4
ill. as colour pl.
'£30,000 paid for a nine-inch drawing. Van der Goes work creates record' in 'The Times', 11 May 1961
p. 6
ill. on p. 6
Panofsky, Erwin, Early Netherlandish painting, Cambridge, MA 1953
vol. I, pp. 334 note 3, 500
Mathey, Jacques, Bildnis und Gestalt der Frau in Meisterzeichnungen aus fünf Jahrhunderten., Holbein-Verlag, Basel 1951
p. 9 and no. 14 on p. 18
ill. on p. 48
Mongan, Agnes, 100 Master Drawings, Harvard University Press 1949
cat. no. 16
ill.
Wescher, Paul, 'Sanders and Simon Bening and Gerard Horenbout', Art Quarterly, 9, 1946, pp. 191-211
pl. 99
Friedländer, Max J., Die altniederländische Malerei / 14. Pieter Bruegel und Nachtrag zu früheren Bänden, Berlin 1937
p. 93
Dupont, Jacques, 'Quelques dessins flamands', Arts et métiers graphiques, 9, 1936
p. 21
Friedländer, Max J., 'Eine Zeichnung von Hugo van der Goes' in 'Pantheon', 1935 - pp. 99-104; 15
pp. 98-100 ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: upper centre: a crowned eagle? Image only just visible with transmitted light on the VSC and is directly over the mark in the backing sheet which obscures it - needs further investigation.
Backing sheet: upper centre: fleur-de-lis.
Inscription: Recto: lower right corner, brown ink, cut off: only the letter “a” legible. Verso (backing sheet): upper centre, brown ink, Italian 18th-century (?) hand: "Sandro scrive che sicuro fia"; upper centre, graphite: "14; centre, graphite: "4"; lower left, brown ink, 19th-century hand: "Petro Perugino".
Collector's mark: none.
Inscription: Recto: lower right corner, brown ink, cut off: only the letter “a” legible. Verso (backing sheet): upper centre, brown ink, Italian 18th-century (?) hand: "Sandro scrive che sicuro fia"; upper centre, graphite: "14; centre, graphite: "4"; lower left, brown ink, 19th-century hand: "Petro Perugino".
Collector's mark: none.
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