This drawing was from the time of its acquisition identified as the work of Giuseppe Bibiena, while a related drawing at the Metropolitan Museum (inv. 50.519), also acquired from Hans Calmann in 1950, was reattributed by Hyatt Mayor to Ferdinando Galli Bibiena and remains catalogued under that attribution at the Met. The highly decorated architecture and the figure types of both drawings can be compared to the plates of Giuseppe's Architettura, e Prospettive of 1740, and also to a Palatial Court with Statue of a Deity (Kelder 1968, cat. 44), likewise attributed to Giuseppe. Deanna Lenzi (Lenzi and Bentini 2000, 270), however, has recently argued that both the Metropolitan and Morgan drawings should be given instead to Francesco.
Inscribed on verso, at upper right, in pen and brown ink, "No 5".
Galli Bibiena, Giuseppe, 1695-1757, Formerly attributed to.
Calmann, Hans M., former owner.
Baker, Walter C., donor.
Adams, Frederick B., Jr. First Annual Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1950, p. 52-53.
Pierpont Morgan Library. Review of Acquisitions, 1949-1968. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1969, p. 131.