Watermark: laid down.
Richardson and Barnard, the late-seventeenth and eighteenth century owners of this drawing, considered it an example of Bourdon's draftsmanship. There is little to assess it against as landscape drawings in red chalk by the chameleon-like Bourdon are scarce. It compares favorably with some etchings by Bourdon which feature rocky landscapes with figures embedded in the scene. Alternately, several scholars have proposed Gaspard Dughet or someone in his circle as the author of this sheet.
Inscribed on mount in pen and black ink, at lower center, "Sebastien Bourdon", at left, "Born at Montpellier 1616"; at right, "died at Paris 1671.", above this, "J:B" (John Barnard). On back of mat, "B 16 x" (N. Smith); "L. 62 / It. 3 / L. 20 / P. 16 / Lg. 20 / L. 5 / G / B1 Gx" [Richardon's pressmark], and to the right, "Pond [blurred] / Pond"; "J.B. No. 500 / 10 3/4 by 8" (indicating number in Barnard's collection sale).
Richardson, Jonathan, 1665-1745, former owner.
Barnard, John, d. 1784, former owner.
Smith, Nathaniel, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Collection J. Pierpont Morgan : Drawings by the Old Masters Formed by C. Fairfax Murray. London : Privately printed, 1905-1912, III, 86, repr.