(Augsburg 1573- 1613 Prague) attributed to ‘Madonna with the Christ Child and many animals, oil on copper, 34 x 24.5 cm, framed,

Certificate: Dr. Rainer Stüwe, (23 May 2001), confirms that this is an autograph work by Daniel Fröschel: ‘The picture repeats the composition of the famous wash drawing by Dürer from the Prague Collection, today held in the Albertina, Vienna, which depicts ‘The Madonna and many animals'. This sheet displays traces of having been squared off and it is likely to have been used for such a transfer.

Daniel Fröschel, who had become well known, especially as a miniature painter, was appointed Imperial Antiquarius to Rudolf II in Prague in 1607, having access to the largest Kunstkammer of his time with its works by all of the most important artists (see literature), due to his high standing at the court. His activities as antiquary left him little time to paint. After Rudolf II's death he was indicted for the misappropriation of objects from the Kunstkammer. Especially famous were his miniatures of animals and flowers for Rudolf II. His miniature of Adam and Eve, signed and dated, ‘D. F.1604’ in the possession of the Albertina in Vienna is well known, as is a watercolour of the Madonna and Child of 1484 after a drawing by Albrecht Dürer of 1512 (in the Albertina).