After Girolama Mocetto. Murano ca. 1470-1531 Venice
Inscribed on a scroll in the foreground, in fantastic letters, in pen and green-brown ink, by the artist, "sepe eadem anas te tam[iam?] sat paxit; at lower left", in pen and brown ink, "M?"; on verso, at lower center, in black chalk, "105?"; according to note in departmental file, on verso of former lining, in 19th century hand, "Strutt has described an ancient print of this subject and size, but is at a loss to which artist to attribute it - V. Dictionary of Engravers page 24 - Introduction / Andrea Mantegna / lot 116 in graffins Fagal sale May 29, 1801 / TH / E. Roscoe's voll. painting 33v".
Watermark: Ladder in a circle (cf. Briquet, II, 5918 Lucca 1506-9/ Venice 1492).
Esdaile, William, 1758-1837, former owner.
Ottley, William Young, 1771-1836, former owner.
Robinson, J. C. (John Charles), Sir, 1824-1913, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Collection J. Pierpont Morgan : Drawings by the Old Masters Formed by C. Fairfax Murray. London : Privately printed, 1905-1912, IV, 56, repr.