Lot 40 Dα

A label with old handwriting to the reverse "T. Sauter 1757 / Augsburg / Seitenaltar bei St. Stephan / von m. lb. Vater † 4. Sept 1876 g. 7. Nov. 1793".
This work's composition corresponds almost exactly to that of a an altar painting by Sauter kept in the Stiftskirche St. Stephan in Augsburg, which was destroyed in World War II. Some differences, such as the pose of the putto on the lower margin or the two putti holding the canopy above the peace dove, both which are not to be found in the altar painting at St. Stephen's, lead us to believe that this work is not a later copy, but rather a bozzetto or, more likely, a presentation sketch for the large-scale piece.
This large-scale painting hung above the altar of Mary in the freiweltlichen adeligen Damenstift St. Stephan, which was founded by Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg in 969, until it was destroyed in 1944. The church of St. Stephen was entirely renewed from 1755 to 1757 based on plans by the Electoral court builder Franz Xaver Kleinhans. It is likely that the present work was carried out around the time the newly built church was being furnished.