Frames and supports in 15th and 16th-century Southern Netherlandish painting

CATALOGUE 364 4. Hans Memling, Triptych of the Deposition , known as the Reins Triptych . Closed: St Wilgefortis ; St Mary of Egypt . Open: wings: Adriaan Reins and his Patron ; St Barbara , 1480 (dated on the upper rail of the centre frame and initials A R on the lower rail) Inv. no. O.SJ0177.I Provenance: painted for brother Adriaan Reins of the St John’s Hospital. Bibliography: Bruges cat. 1960, 102-103; Lobelle and Van Cleven 1976, 509-512, S.3; De Vos 1994a, 170-172. Panels: painted in the grooved frames. Frames: stub mortise and tenon joints, mitred at the front, square at the back, with single peg. The central frame is a little thicker and wider than those of the wings. The triptych closed with a two sets of hooks and rings fixed alternately on the outside of the wings. The two rings remain, along with one hook and the nail holding the second hook. The hinges are original; the pin is fixed, with no indent cut into the sides of the frame for removing it. On the reverse, traces of successive non-original hanging devices. On the outside, the polychromy is well preserved: bluish grey marbling with painted mitre and joins between stones. On the inside, also largely original, with repairs to the gilding.