Lot number 3038 - Auction 160
GOTISCHE HEILIGENFIGUR DES PANTALEON VON NIKOMDEIA

GOTHIC FIGURE OF SAINT PANTALEON OF NICOMEDIA Rhineland/Southern Germany, 1510-1520 Linden wood, carved in the round, gilded, polychrome finish; on a base (added later). H. 48 cm, W. 17 cm, D. 8 cm; weight approx. 0.97 kg. A finely carved Late Gothic depiction of Saint Pantaleon, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and a significant early Christian martyr. The depiction of his hands nailed to his head refers to the final phase of his martyrdom under Emperor Maximian. Of particular importance is the documented provenance: formerly in the Alexander Schnütgen Collection, Cologne; listed in the Museum Schnütgen under inventory number A 242 and published by Fritz Witte in 1912. On July 16, 1940, the piece was transferred by Director Hermann Schnitzler to the Cologne Museum of Applied Arts (Kunstgewerbemuseum), where it was exchanged for a lidded vase ("Böttcher vase"). Its removal from the museum's holdings is documented in the historical inventory book of the Museum Schnütgen. Subsequently, from the 1950s onwards, it was in a private collection in North Rhine-Westphalia. Minor knocks and damage; losses to the polychromy; minor woodworm infestation on the reverse. Photo: Historical Archive of the City of Cologne / Rheinisches Bildarchiv, rba_042227 Literature: Cf. Fritz Witte, *Die Skulpturen der Sammlung Schnütgen in Cöln*, Cologne 1912, p. 90, pl. 78.1 (illus.). Provenance: Formerly Alexander Schnütgen Collection, Cologne; Museum Schnütgen - private collection, North Rhine-Westphalia.