Dated to the early 18th century, the 9ft 9in high x 17ft 6in wide (2.98 x 5.35m) silk and wool work after Pierre Mignard was probably from the Soho workshops of John Vanderbank the Elder.
It sold at £29,000, just below top estimate, to the free-spending Continental bidder at Newbury.
Work of a 'gifted child'?
Textile and needlework collage of St Cecilia thought to date from c.1600 – £15,000 at Dreweatts.
Demolishing its estimate was an enigmatic 8 x 11in (20 x 28cm) textile and needlework collage of St Cecilia. Thought to date from c.1600, it was housed in a 17th century ebonised frame.
Created using textiles, hand-dotted gilded paper, penwork and small glass beads, the patron saint of music and musicians is shown seated alongside an attendant angel playing a pipe organ and ‘donor’ figures to an archway to the left. The musical score played by the angel is inscribed with the Cantantibus Organic, a Latin text that forms the antiphon of the Vespers on Cecilia’s feast day (November 22).
Although the origin of this work is unknown, it would seem to be the work of a gifted child or young person emulating work they may have seen in their household.
It sold at £15,000 against an estimate of £2000-3000.
