ENAMEL PLAQUE "THE ENTOMBMENT OF CHRIST" Limoges, ca. 1520/30. Attributable to the master craftsman of the Altar of Mesnil-sous-Jumièges. Depiction of the Entombment of Christ. The body of Christ is placed in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea. Kneeling in front is Mary Magdalene, behind St. Nicodemus. Behind the tomb is a group of saints, including the Virgin Mary and St. John. 15.5 × 15.5 cm. Restored. The composition of the plaque on offer probably goes back to a woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). His original composition of the Entombment is dated 1509 (or earlier) and was created in connection with his cycle of works on the Passion of Christ. The artist of the enamel work on offer adopted the basic structural elements from Cranach. For example, the horizontal tomb, the constellation of figures, the arrangement, the facial expressions, gestures and postures as well as the horizon opening up into a landscape, faithfully follow the original. Stylistically, the work on offer is strongly reminiscent of works by the master craftsman of the Altar of Mesnil-sous-Jumièges, in particular the Altar in Mesnil-sous-Jumièges from which he obtained his name, and an individual plaque depicting the Crucifixion of Christ. Both works are dated ca. 1520-25 and can be found in the Musée des Beaux Arts in Limoges (Inv. Nos. 376 & 457). Several scenes of the Altar are based on engravings from the "Great Passion" (1508-1512) and the "Small Passion" (1510) by Dürer. Cf.: Véronique Notin, "Le Maître du retable de Mesnil-sous-Jumièges", BSAHL, 1991, pp. 97-110. * The full tax is charged on this item marked * in the auction catalogue, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum of the bid price plus the surcharge for those items. The VAT will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration.