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A RARE EARLY MID 16TH CENTURY CARVED WALNUT PANEL OF THE VEIL OF VERONICA. FRANCO-FLEMISH.

A RARE EARLY MID 16TH CENTURY CARVED WALNUT PANEL OF THE VEIL OF VERONICA. FRANCO-FLEMISH.

AFTER AN ENGRAVING BY ALBRECHT DURER.
Centred by the veil, bearing an image of Cristo Morto, and wearing the Crown of Thorns, the veil held aloft to either side with a curly-haired winged angel, the one on the left holding a spear, the one on the right - possibly Raphael - holding aloft a staff and gourd, all within an integral moulded border with bevelled bottom edge.

This unusual depiction of the veil - without Veronica - bears a striking similarity to an engraving of Albrecht Dürer's of 1513, which depicts the veil between two angels, rather than being presented by Veronica as was usually the case. Dürer's engraving of two lamenting angels carrying it to heaven combines various motifs in one image: the 'vera icon', the Presentation of Christ, the Lamentation, the Man of Sorrows and the Ascension. This combination of several aspects of Christian iconography in a single image made this engraving particularly suitable for private devotion.

The legend of Saint Veronica and the Sudarium as we know it today emerged in the 13th century, when Veronica's encounter with Christ carrying the Cross began to feature in depictions of the Passion. As Christ staggered past, Veronica mopped His brow with her veil, whereupon an image of His face appeared on the cloth, which is, so the legend has it, the one kept at St. Peter's in Rome. It is considered to be the true image, the 'vera icon', of Christ.

PROVENANCE-
Purchased Mary Bellis Antiques, Hungerford, 12th March 1979 for £800.

24.75" WIDE X 12.25" HIGH X 1" DEEP APROX.

STOCK NO 1495.