A painting believed to be a masterpiece by the Flemish artist Quentin Metsys was recently acquired by the J. Paul Getty Museum at Christie’s in London for £10.6 million, including fees. The piece, known as “The Madonna of the Cherries,” dates back to the 1520s and depicts the Virgin and Child in an intimate embrace, with the Virgin holding cherries in her right hand. This significant acquisition comes after a complex history of the artwork’s rediscovery and restoration.
Christie’s records indicate that “The Madonna of the Cherries” vanished from public view in the 17th century, only to resurface at a Paris sale in 1920. At that time, the painting had undergone several alterations, including the addition of a translucent green curtain and other modifications that obscured its original composition. The artwork, heavily overpainted and covered in a thick layer of discolored varnish, was later offered at Christie’s London in 2015. Attributed to Metsys’s studio rather than the master himself, it sold for a modest £254,500, against an estimate of £60,000-£80,000.
The transformation of the painting’s attribution from a studio work to a prime version of Metsys’s masterpiece followed extensive conservation efforts. As noted by Christie’s, it was through this meticulous restoration that unnamed scholars could confirm the painting as an authentic work by Metsys. This re-evaluation significantly elevated the artwork’s status and value.
The Getty Museum, in a statement, highlighted the significance of this acquisition: “The 16th-century painting’s recent rediscovery offered us an opportunity to acquire one of the most significant paintings of the Flemish Renaissance to appear on the market in decades.” Anne Woollett, curator of paintings at the Getty Museum, elaborated on the importance of the piece, stating: “This painting represents Metsys’ distinct personal style derived from his absorption of Netherlandish visual traditions and keen appreciation of significant Italian artistic developments.”
“The Madonna of the Cherries” will soon be on display in the Getty Center’s North Pavilion in Los Angeles, allowing the public to appreciate this remarkable piece of Renaissance art. The painting’s provenance traces back to its initial ownership by Cornelis van der Geest, an Antwerp spice merchant. In 1615, the Archduke Albert VII of Austria and Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia visited van der Geest and expressed interest in purchasing the painting. The artwork was subsequently featured in William van Haecht’s 1628 painting “The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest.”
Quentin Metsys’s auction record was previously set by “Mary in Prayer,” which sold for €1.5 million with fees at Kunsthaus Lempertz, Cologne, in 2020, surpassing its estimate of €500,000-€700,000. This latest acquisition by the Getty Museum not only underscores Metsys’s enduring significance in the art world but also marks a triumphant return of “The Madonna of the Cherries” to its rightful place as a celebrated masterpiece of the Flemish Renaissance.
