In 1928 Jan Herman van Heek bought this work of art at an auction, thinking it was painted by Hans Dürer, the younger brother of the famous Albrecht Dürer. Not long after the acquisition though, researchers came to the conclusion that, because of its style of painting, it had to be attributed to Hans Döring from Hessen, rather than to Hans Dürer. But the notion of Hans Dürer being the painter of the work had not been all that farfetched. Döring was a great admirer of his contemporary Albrecht Dürer and he incorporated a number of Dürer’s engravings in this painting. Anna and Mary are in fact a copy-paste avant la lettre of one of Dürer’s engravings and the woman in the right panel very much resembles a woman in yet another of Dürer’s engravings. Döring’s triptych impresses with its dark clouded sky, its landscape, its rich colours, Mary’s beautiful gown and all those playful nephews of Jesus.
For more information on the depicted scene , press A For more information on the golden spandrels, press B