Dutch School

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Dutch School
18th century
Harvesters Cutting and Carting Wheat at the Edge of a Village
Brush and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper; two framing lines in black ink (one on paper of drawing, other on the old mount).
14 1/4 x 19 7/16 inches (361 x 494 mm)
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1909.
III, 233

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Notes: 

Watermark: fleur-de-lis within a shield (similar to Heawood, no. 1805: London, 1722).
While the drawing has been attributed to Wigerus Vitringa (Leeuwarden 1657-1721 Wirdun) since it was acquired by Fairfax Murray, it is likely that it was done by an as yet unidentified artist named "Witrijck." Not only is Vitringa known exclusively for marine subjects, but there were other drawings properly identified as by Vitringa in the Woodburn sale, where the present sheet, by contrast, was given to "Witrijck."

Inscription: 

Inscribed at upper left, in black chalk, "Gesicht Van Witrick". On the verso, in graphite, at upper left, "1505"; and in lower left quadrant, No. ["o" in superscript] 1194. Witrick. / (at Woodburn's Sale June 1854.)".

Provenance: 
Samuel Woodburn (1786-1853), London (no mark; see Lugt 2584); his sale, London, Christie's, 16-27 June 1854, lot 1194: "Witryck. A landscape, with a cornfield" (to "Peace" for £0.1.0); Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919), London and Florence; from whom purchased through Galerie Alexandre Imbert, Rome, in 1909 by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), New York (no mark; see Lugt 1509); his son, J. P. Morgan, Jr. (1867-1943), New York.
Associated names: 

Vitringa, Wigerus, 1657-1721, Formerly attributed to.
Woodburn, Samuel, 1785 or 1786-1853 former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.

Bibliography: 

Collection J. Pierpont Morgan : Drawings by the Old Masters Formed by C. Fairfax Murray. London : Privately printed, 1905-1912, III, 233, repr. (as Vitringa)

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