The Deposition

The present Deposition is presumably based on a lost prototype by Rogier van der Weyden of the 1440s, which was possibly the central panel of a triptych. The theme of the Descent from the Cross was widespread by 1480 and very popular well into the 16th Century, as can be concluded from the numerous, mostly 16th Century, copies. Two groups of variants exist: the composition with Christ, the Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist and Joseph of Arimathaea, such as the present lot; and a second without Saint John (see: C. Stroo and P. Syfer-d'Olne, 'The Master of Flémalle and Rogier van der Weyden Groups', in The Flemish Primitives, I, Brussels, 1996, pp. 207-13, under no. 15.).