Title

Saint Ursula

Anónimo castellano

Generic classification

Object

Date

Century

Cultural context / style

Material

Technique

Iconography / Theme

Provenance

Current location

Object history

The author of this relief of Saint Ursula is unknown, however, the characteristics of the piece, such as the heavy drapery and the face, indicate that it could be a follower of Alonso Berruguete. Trusted (2024) finds similarities in this work with the Assumption of the Virgin by Juan de Cambray (Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales, Valladolid), with King David (now in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London) attributed to Pedro de la Cuadra and with Francisco Rincón, who was Gregorio Fernández's teacher. Therefore, it is possible that this relief was in an altarpiece in the province of Valladolid.

Ferdinand Eduard von Stumm (1843-1925) was a German diplomat and nobleman from the Saar region who was sent to Madrid in 1887 as ambassador. He stayed in the Spanish capital until 1892, a time he took advantage of to acquire numerous works of art. During his stay his private collection increased notably, since his position allowed him to acquire the necessary contacts in the country to be able to acquire notable pieces. Von Stumm bought this relief of St. Ursula and took it with him on his return to Germany (Trusted, 2024). On October 4, 1932, an auction was held with the pieces that the diplomat treasured in his collection. The following record appears in the catalog (26):

• VIERECKIGES POLYCHROMES HOLZRELIEF: Heilige Ursula (oder Christina) stehend, in langfaltigem, buntgeblümtem Gewand. In der Rechten die Kreuzesfahne, in der Linken Pfeil und Märtyrerpalme haltend. Angedeuteter Isandschaftshintergrund.Panien. 16. Jahrh. H: 49; Br: 30 cm.

This description agrees with the relief of the saint and also confirms its Spanish provenance. We do not know who bought it, but years later it came up for sale again in Isphording Antiek, Best (Netherlands). It was in a private collection until 2010, but was sold on March 22, 2022 in Roseberys (London). Jonathan Ruffer, a British financier and philanthropist, acquired the piece and it is now held at The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland, UK (Trusted, 2024).

Description

The female figure carries a banner, an arrow and a palm of martyrdom, attributes that correspond to Saint Ursula. She was a Christian princess who, together with a group of eleven thousand virgins, undertook a religious pilgrimage by boat. When they arrived in Cologne (Germany) they were captured by the Huns, a pagan barbarian people. The leader of the Huns wanted to take Ursula as his wife, but she firmly refused his proposal, reaffirming her vow of chastity and her faith in Christ. Enraged by her refusal, the leader ordered the execution of Ursula and her companions. According to legend, they were all martyred.

Although the polychromy and gilding of the piece have been restored, they follow the original tones. On the back of the relief there is a label with a brief description of the piece. It was probably placed at the time of auctioning the collection of the diplomat von Stumm. In addition, the number 807 appears, alluding, perhaps, to the inventory number of a collection in which it was (Trusted, 2024).

Locations

• ca. 1560 - ca. 1887

  province

  Possible origin in the province of Valladolid, Valladolid (Spain)

• ca. 1887 - ca. 1932

  private collection

  Ferdinand Eduard von Stumm, Ebsdorfergrund (Germany) *

• XX^th c. - ca. 2000

  auction house

  Isphording Antiek, Best (Netherlands)

• ca. 2000 - ca. 2020

  private collection

  Private Collection, London, London (United Kingdom) *

• 2022

  auction house

  Roseberys, London (United Kingdom)

• ca. 2022 - ca. 2023

  private collection

  Jonathan Ruffer, Durham (United Kingdom) *

• ca. 2023 - present

  private collection

  The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland (United Kingdom) *