The drawing was acquired as by Donato Creti, an attribution probably first made by James Byam Shaw (note on mount) and which has much to support it. A drawing of a similar subject by Creti, from the Mather collection and once given to Salvator Rosa, is at Princeton University.1 Creti’s biographer Giampetrino Zanotti emphasized his dedication to drawing. In this instance the draftsman uses extraordinary precise hatching of short sharp lines.
Footnotes:
- Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, inv. 1952-172.
The drawing was acquired as by Donato Creti, an attribution probably first made by James Byam Shaw (pencil note on mount) and which has much to support it.
Formerly attributed to Anonymous, Italian School, 17th cent.
Inscribed on old mount in pen and black ink, "Titiano"; on verso of old mount in graphite at lower center, "Coll. Sir Jos[hua] Reynolds"; at lower right in pen and brown ink, "Apell / Aug: 71. / T[?]hi"; at lower left and right in graphite, "368"; on fragments of old mount in pencil, "Feb.(?) [crossed out]"; "MARCO / Ricci?? M / VRU.(?)"; "Donato Creti / JBS"; "5". Stamped at lower left with collector's mark of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Stamped on fragment of old mount, "30[b in superscript and underlined]". Unidentified collector's stamp on verso of old mount.
Anonymous, Italian School, 17th cent., Formerly attributed to.
Titian, approximately 1488-1576, Formerly attributed to.
Reynolds, Joshua, Sir, 1723-1792, former owner.
Kraus, Hans Peter, 1907-1988, former owner.