Signed and dated at lower left, "J. J. DB. 1797"; on face of old mount, "1975 J. Meyer".
Watermark: Horn with strap inside shield surmounted by crown, over letters "DAH".
Another very similar sheet of studies of heads was engraved in reverse by Ignace Joseph de Claussin (1795-1844) in 1817 and it is possible that the present sheet was made in connection with a yet-to-be-identified print.
Mayor, William, 1826-1892, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
"Brief Chronological Description of a collection of original drawings and sketches by the old masters of the different schools of Europe: from the revival of art in Italy in the XIIIth to the XIXth century/ formed by the late Mr. William Mayor; the result of upwards of fifty years' experience and research", London 1875, no. 595.