Similar in style and technique to the work of Domenico Campagnola, the drawing has been given to this artist since at least Fairfax Murray’s time. The attribution is, however, by no means convincing – it may in fact only have arisen because of the letters “DC” that the lines just above the pelican at top in the decorative border seem to spell out. This may well be accidental. The drawing is probably by an as yet unknown North Italian, possibly Venetian or Paduan artist. It is kept under its traditional attribution for lack of a better alternative.
Watermark: none.
Possibly inscribed at upper right, above pelican, in pen and brown ink, by the artist, "DC"; on verso of lining, in graphite, "Border; 2".; faint on verso, "Campagnola".
Mayor, William, 1826-1892, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Tietze and Tietze-Conrat, 1944, 129, no. A 514; Eitel-Porter and Marciari 2019, 27-28.
Collection J. Pierpont Morgan : Drawings by the Old Masters Formed by C. Fairfax Murray. London : Privately printed, 1905-1912, IV, 59, repr.