Watermark: none visible through lining.
Formerly attributed to Anonymous, French School, 16th cent.
This drawing is related to the only dated print by the Master JG, known through an unfinished, unique first state impression in the British Museum bearing the year 1526. A second state impression, also dated 1526, is in the Musée du Louvre, département des Arts graphiques, collection Edmond de Rothschild, 4573. The Morgan drawing was traced with a stylus to transfer the design to the plate. It is one of only three known drawings by the artist, including one other sheet in the Morgan's collection (1952.1), and a sheet in the British Museum (1860,0616.53).
Lyon became a center for copperplate etching in the 1520s. A small group of four drawings and about forty prints, signed JG, have been associated with the name Jean de Gourmont since Pierre Jean Mariette first made the identification. But as has been noted, Gourmont died in 1522-23, and the one dated print we have by the artist was produced in 1526. More recently, it has been found that the only "JG" recorded in Lyon at the time was a goldsmith named Jacques Gauvain. There is no evidence to prove that Gauvin is the author of these works, and so they remain under the name of the Master JG.
Formerly attributed to Jean de Gourmont, Carquebut, Manche, ca. 1483-ca. 1551.
Gourmont, Jean de, active 1506-1522, Formerly attributed to.
Anonymous, French School, 16th cent., Formerly attributed to.
Robinson, J. C. (John Charles), Sir, 1824-1913, 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, 66, repr. (as French School, 16th cent.)
Denison, Cara D. French Drawings, 1550-1825. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1984, no. 2, repr.
Denison, Cara D. French Master Drawings in the Pierpont Morgan Library. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1993, no. 3, repr.