Discovery of another masterpiece in Toulouse

After the Caravaggio, a new masterpiece of art was discovered in a family from Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) in July 2021. "The Thuriferous Angel dressed in a yellow tunic" by Bernhard Strigel painted in 1520 will soon be auctioned. Since the end of the 19th century, he was the angel who protected this Toulouse family from generation to generation. Its current owner had inherited it from his parents, who obtained it from theirs . In July 2021, during an inventory for insurance, this client asked Pauline Maringe to " take a look " at a set of paintings acquired during an inheritance. And more particularly, to this painting of a kneeling angel, dressed in a yellow tunic, holding a censer in his hands. "The Thuriferous Angel dressed in a yellow tunic" by Bernhard Strigel. • © © Artpaugée - Studio Christian Baraja. At the time, the Artpaugée auctioneer did not hide her surprise: " It was in such good condition that when I saw it the first time, I had doubts about the authenticity of the work. A doubt lifted once the painting was turned over and the wood panels studied. A masterpiece of the German Renaissance By its quality, the rendering of the drape of the tunic and that of the wings, the brilliance of its colors, its composition, this painting is a masterpiece belonging to a period between late Gothic and the German Renaissance. But who is the author? Thirty years ago, its owners approached antique fairs to have it appraised. Without success. This time, it is entrusted to expert Turquin for its authentication and attribution. After research, the subject, the dimensions (48.7 x 61 cm) , the essence, the scale of the figure correspond to another painting, acquired by the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2009, "The Thuriferous Angel", below. Part of the altarpiece of Our Lady of Memmingen The Toulouse painting is its counterpart, taking place within the same altarpiece, these painted and sculpted parts located behind the altars. Bernhard Strigel painted the whole in 1520 for our Lady ofMemmingen's Church. A real emotion for Pauline Maringe: " it is the first time that I have discovered such a work. It is exciting for the history of art, and it is emotionally moving. Bernhard Strigel is not a very well-known artist, but to complete his biography, hang his previously unknown works in the art market gives us the impression of participating in something meaningful. it's pretty cool. That's why we do this job . " Over time, this " angel in the yellow tunic " appeared and disappeared. Fragmented at the time of the Reformation, he arrived in France at the beginning of the 19th century, after " a possible passage through Tuscany ", before mysteriously vanishing and resurfacing in this Toulouse family. Estimated between 600,000 and 800,000 euros A new extraordinary discovery in the pink city, more than 7 years after that of "Judith beheading Holofernes" by Caravaggio . The auctioneer is convinced of this: other paintings, other sculptures are waiting to be revealed: " There is a real heritage in Toulouse. There are still old families with works that have never been released and have been hidden for over 100 years. Toulouse is a crossroads of trade, close to Spain, to Italy. The works were circulating. There are still beautiful things to discover. " Estimated between 600,000 and 800,000 euros - far from Caravaggio's 110 million euros - "The Thuriferous Angel dressed in a yellow tunic" by Bernhard Strigel will be on sale on February 4, 2022 at the Chapelle des Carmélites in Toulouse . " My client has an emotional problem, assures Pauline Maringe . He is attached to this painting and turns out to be torn between nostalgia to see him leave the family and the joy of knowing that he has been welcomed into a museum ". With the hope that the Louvre Abu Dhabi will acquire it and reunite the two panels of the Memmingen altarpiece , separated for nearly five centuries now. see on the news in France-Info