MEISTER DER STIRLING-MAXWELL SAMMLUNG
(active in Toledo circa 1640)
In 2003, a matching pair of still lifes turned up at auction in Madrid (Alcalà), one of which was signed. Based on this signed work, Dr William B. Jordan identified a coherent group of anonymous paintings as the oeuvre of the Spaniard Alonso de Escobar (active around 1602–1637).
He had previously identified these paintings, based on the provenance of the painting which he considered the main work of this central group (cf. Spanish Still Life from Velásquez to Goya, ed. by William B. Jordan and Peter Cherry, London 1995, p. 33, no. 4, with ill.), under the provisional name ‘Master of the Stirling Maxwell Collection’. The collection assembled by the Scottish nobleman Sir William Sterling-Maxwell (1818-1878) – one of the first art historians to devote himself extensively to the study of Spanish art –represented the largest collection of Spanish art in Britain, of which some 50 paintings and prints are now in Pollock House in Glasgow.
Researchers are still not in complete agreement as to the identity of our artist. While Dr William Jordan sees a connection with the hand of Alonso de Escobar, Rafael Romero Asenjo emphasises the stylistic affinity between our artist and Alejandro de Loarte (c. 1590/1600–1626) (cf. Rafael Romero Asenjo: El bodegón español en el siglo XVII: desvelando su naturaleza oculta, Madrid 2009, p. 55).
Works by this artist from our auctions
Following are some examples of works by this artist from our past and future auctions.We are always accepting consignments for our auctions. Share in our success – contact us today for a no-obligations auction estimate.
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