Lot 116: After Jean Penicaud I Limoges Enameled Triptych, Three Scenes from the Passion of Christ

After Jean Penicaud I (French, ca. 1490-after 1543) Limoges painted enamel over copper triptych depicting the Betrayal of Christ /The Kiss of Judas, Christ Crowned with Thorns, and The Flagellation. Housed in a bronze foliate frame. Overall: 11 5/8″ H x 20 1/2″ W. Central plaque: 10 1/4″ W. Note: Jean Penicaud I was the founder of what would become a family dynasty of enamellers in Limoges, France. This particular triptych, which we believe to be 19th century or earlier, emulates one by Jean Penicaud I in the Frick Collection in New York. “Like many enamelers before and after him, Penicaud drew elements of his compositions from prints that were circulating throughout Europe and provided exposure to international artistic currents. For the central scene, he closely followed an engraving by Martin Schongauer, enlarging the figures to allow their dynamic poses, demonstrative gestures, and brightly colored garments to fill the space. He also included Italian elements that would have been perceived as modern motifs in early sixteenth-century France: the geometric tile floor, the marble insets in the back wall, and the classical columns.” (Source: The Frick Collection)

PROVENANCE: The collection of Alex and Cristina Ionescu, South Carolina, by descent from his father, the artist, conservator, and collector Vlaicu Ionescu of New York (1922-2001).

CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Lefthand plaque with losses to the extreme lower left corner. Central plaque with denting to the margin around the upper left corner, upper right corner with crack and minor loss, 1/4″ L, plus lower left corner with bending and negligible losses. Righthand plaque with minor bending to the lower right margin.