Sculpture (oak) of a theological discussion - Brussels Late 15th century

A small sculpture (relief) - carved from a piece of wood that has been cut radially from the trunk.

Brussels - End of the 15th century

This scene is probably a theological dispute.
A group of three seated figures is symmetrically arranged in front of a late Gothic window architecture.
The two figures in the foreground are seated in profile facing each other, the one on the right on an armchair with a folding suitcase, the one on the left on a matching sofa.
Behind them is the middle person a little higher - in front view. This last character is flanked by a coat of arms held by two naked putti.
On the left is a woman – (matching the images of Elisabeth), wearing a red dress with a plunging neckline and puffed sleeves and a large hat, with an open book in her lap.
The character on the right points to the book with his right hand and looks at the woman. Judging from the elongated leg with the high boots, the long high-necked tunic and the hood falling low over the shoulders, it is probably a monk (perhaps the wish of the confessor Konrad von Marburg).
The third figure is dressed in a white veil and comes out with joined hands from under a large cloak as if she were - in the manner of Mother Sophia - witness or judge of the theological inquiry.

The core of the trunk was probably on the narrow right side.
The back of the relief is slightly convex and the surface has been smoothed. The two putti bear the coat of arms.

Provenance : collection Prof. Dr. Henny Otto Goldschmidt (Pays-Bas – Eindhoven)

Expo: ‘In gotischer Gesellschaft’ – Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum Aachen (april/july 1998)

Expo: Heavenly images: the medieval sculptures from the Goldschmidt collection
april/july 2001 – Rijksmuseum Twenthe

Published: P. 44-45 – Die Grossen Privatsammlungen - ‘In gotischer Gesellschaft’ – Spätmittelalterlichte Skulpturen aus einer Niederländischen Privatsammlung Provenance: collection Prof. Dr. Henny Otto Goldschmidt (Netherlands – Eindhoven)