Lot 6: LUCAS GASSEL

LUCAS GASSEL HELMOND CIRCA 1495/1500 - CIRCA 1570 BRUSSELS TAMAR AND JUDAH IN A LANDSCAPE oil on panel 72.7 by 112.7 cm.

Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 25 January 2001, lot 111.

Gassel is mostly known for his historical and biblical subjects set into extensive panoramic landscapes. With his high horizon lines and teeming mountainous structures, such as in this painting, he firmly belongs to the tradition of landscape painting established in the north by Joachim Patinir (circa 1475-1524) and Herri met de Bles (circa 1510-before 1566).

The subject is taken from the book of Genesis (38:14-18) and tells the story of Tamar and Judah. According to custom of the levirate marriage, Tamar, the widow of Judah's firstborn Er, was to marry the next eligible son of the family, Onan. When Onan failed his duties as a husband and as a result was slain by an angry God, Judah should have given Tamar to his youngest son Shelah according to regulation and paternal obligation. However, when Judah delayed this marriage, Tamar realized Judah's plot and devised her own revenge. Dressed as a prostitute, she seduced Judah, who did not recognize her. As a pledge of payment Judah left his ring and staff, as is here shown, which she secretly took with her. When Judah later heared that Tamar was pregnant he ordered that she should be burnt to death for breaking her pledge to his family. When she appeared before the execution, she produced Judah's ring and staff. Judah recognized the items and declared that she was more righteous than he.

In 2001, Edwin Buijsen, then of the R.K.D., The Hague, confirmed the attribution to Gassel on the basis of a photograph. A smaller version with slight differences was sold, Amsterdam, Christie's, 9 May 2000, lot 109.