A scene from the life of Ahasuerus
with inscription '23' (on the back of the old mount)
traces of black and red chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash
22 x 16cm
Provenance
Charles Rogers (1711-1784), London (L. 624), on his associated mount;
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 12 April 1983, lot 12;
Sale, Christie's, London, 27th July 2020, lot 8
Estimate: | £800 - £1,200 |
Hammer price: | £400 |
Footnote
This drawing belongs to a series illustrating the Book of Esther. Most sheets carry extensive inscriptions on the verso, but the present drawing is an exception. Other drawings from the series are in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Inv. WA 1947.189 and 190), the Musée du Louvre (Inv. 10559), the British Museum (Inv. 1975,0517.1 and 1975,0517.2; J.A. Gere and P. Pouncey, Italian Drawings in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum: Artists Working in Rome: c. 1550 to c.1640, London, 1983, nos. 191-2, pl. 181), and the Musea Brugge (inv. 2018.GRO0021.II; see V. D'haene, European Old Master Drawings from the Bruges Print Room, exhib. cat., Bruges, Brangwynmuseum, Musea Brugge, 2019, no. 10, ill.).
Condition Report
There are creases off the left border but otherwise the sheet appears sound; light surface staining in the foreground. Under glass and held in a modern frame; unexamined out of frame.