Probably executed at the time of Wagner's production of Spontini's opera "Die Vestalin" in Dresden in 1844.
Signed and dated in black chalk at lower center: 'G. W. / Dresda... 44'. On a separate piece of paper attached to bottom of the drawing, in pen and brown ink, in the hand of Gaspare Spontini: Di nuovo addio, Germania a me si cara! / Sommo dover (a) di nuovo ci separa! / Ma, quanto io sia lontan da tuoi confini, / Fedel ti resta il cor del tuo Spontini. / Dresda, le 8 decembre / del 1844 / (a) verso l'Istituto / di Francia!
Olson, Roberta J. M., former owner.
Johnson, Alexander B. V., former owner.