Arms of Fridolinus Lindacher with Saints Joseph and Fridolinus
Emile Gaillard (1821-1902), Paris; his sale, Paris, Paul Chevallier, 17 May 1904, lot no. 674; acquired by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), New York, and installed in his library 1907-9.
(below arms) A. R. D. Fridolinvs Lind=/ acher Decan des Ehrwirdigen/ Capitels zu Surse diser Zeitt/ Pfahrhere Zu Ruswÿl 1692 (A. R. D. Fridolinus Lindacher, deacon of the worthy city of Sursee; at this time pastor of Ruswil, 1692) (flanking dedication cartouche) monograms IHS (monogram for the name of Jesus) and MR (monogram for Maria Regina, Mary Queen of Heaven).
A deep red heraldic shield displaying a green tree dominates the composition. It is set within a heart-shaped frame of lacy scrollwork that is silhouetted against a white background and rests on a black and yellow checkered floor. An architectural frame further allocates space within the panel. On the left St. Joseph wears a red cloak over a blue tunic. A branch of lilies, symbolizing purity, rests against his shoulder. He holds the Christ Child in his arms and the child reaches to caress him. On the right, the name saint of the donor, Fridolinus, appears in dark monastic robes. He holds a crosier in his right hand and the hand of a skeleton with his left. The saints stand on podiums embellished with cherub heads. The columns beside them support a blue architrave. In the center, the architrave becomes an arch interrupted by an oval cartouche with the seated Virgin and Child surrounded by a golden mandorla. On either side of the arch are seated angels carrying shields with a cross motif. At the bottom of the window the illusion of three-dimensional space continues; two column bases are inscribed with the religious monograms of IHS and MR, for Jesus and his mother. They flank a dedicatory cartouche with a gold scrollwork frame.