Attributed to Pirro Ligorio

Charles Guillemain (Lyon 1893-?), his mark, not in Lugt;
Thomas Williams Fine Art;
acquired in 1996

Laid down on old mount. The ink is slightly sunk in the darkest areas of the sheet, and there are some very small, isolated fox marks, but otherwise the sheet is in very good condition, and the drawing still very strong.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present drawing appears to be very close in style to two sheets in the British Museum, free copies of two of the Trajanic reliefs on the Arch of Constantine (inv.nos. 1946-7-13-640 and 641).¹  As Gere and Pouncey note in their catalogue entry for those drawings: 'The attribution of copies of this kind is not always easy. In the past, as the inscriptions show, both drawings had been given to Polidoro da Caravaggio and to Giulio Romano.'  They went on, however, to categorise the drawings 'as belonging to a somewhat later current', and having considered attributions to both Girolamo da Carpi and Pirro Ligorio, proposed that they might well be examples of Ligorio's early style. An alternative attribution to Battista Franco has also been suggested for the present sheet.

We are grateful to Rhea Blok of the Fondation Custodia, Paris, for her help in identifying the collector's mark on this drawing.

 

1. J.A. Gere and Philip Pouncey, Italian Drawings, Artists working in Rome, c.1550 to c.1640, London 1983, vol. I, nos 200-201, reproduced, vol. II, pls 192-93