Watermark: anchor in a circle surmounted by a star.
One of a series of studies, presumably of Gandolfi's own children. Three other studies of the same child are known: one is in the Albertina; one was sold in London (Sotheby's, 28 June 1979, lot 214); and one was on the art market in 1989 (Paul Rosenberg & Co., New York).
Gaetano and Giovanna Gandolfi had seven children. Their only daughter, Marta, was born in 1771. Gandolfi made a number of portraits of his daughter over the years, some of which show Marta with her hair braided in the same distinct way. Here, Marta, aged about five, is depicted resting her hand on a table as she leans forward, seemingly following a conversation. -- Exhibition Label, from "Life Lines: Portrait Drawings from Dürer to Picasso."
Inscribed on verso in pen and brown ink, "Sig. Gaetano Gandolfi".
Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Twenty-First Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1984-1986. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1989, p. 341.