Kammerherr Fritz von Goldammer, Frankfurt, until his death in 1929;
Inherited by his wife (stored at the Thyssen Bank in Berlin from 1939-1944);
Given by her in 1944 to her daughter and son-in-law;
By whom given to their grandson, the present owner, in 1980.

Darmstadt, Hessisches Landesmuseum, Vom Jenseits ins Dieseits. Sakrale Bilder des Spätmittelaltars aus den Hessischen Landesmuseums und aus Privatbesitz, 16 Septemeber - 12 November 1995.

T. Jülich, in S. Ebert-Schifferer & T. Jülich, Gottesfurcht und Höllenangst, Darmstadt 1993, pp. 108-112, reproduced in colour plate VII.

The support consists of two, possibly three, vertical panels, which have been secured along the reverse with vertical batons. A 1.5 cm. slip has been applied along all four edges. The paint surface is secure and to the naked eye appears well -preserved, with the details of the Madonna's cloak, archangel Michael and Jesus' cloak well-preserved, though some of the gold highlights of the latter are a little worn. The rest of the painting appears to be in good original condition. Inspection under UV light reveals very few retouchings: some are to be found along a small crack at the centre (visible in catalogue illustration), in some of the darker tones in the lower foreground, and other minor retouchings. Underneath the thick varnish, some older retouchings can be made out. Offered in a modern wooden frame in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The composition, with Christ in Judgment at the apex of two arcs, often described as rainbows, which lead to the Virgin and St John on either side, goes back at least to Stefan Lochner in Cologne (his Last Judgement of circa 1435 is still there, in the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum), and remained a convention in the Cologne School: for example in the panel by the Master of St Severin from the late 15th Century in the same museum.  The figure of St Michael weighing souls in the balance occurs in Rogier van der Weyden's Last Judgement painted for the Hospice de Beaune in circa 1443-5, and was widely adopted in The Netherlands and the Rhine valley thereafter.