Old Master Drawings

/

Lot 14
  • 14

Hans Bock the Elder

Estimate
18,000 - 22,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • Hans Bock the Elder
  • Joseph and Potiphar's wife, flanked by justice and prudence

  • Pen and black ink and gray wash, within black ink framing lines; vertical and horizontal creases;
    signed and dated, upper center: HBock 1573;
    bears illegible numberings in brown ink, verso

Provenance

Bears the mark (L.474) previously associated with Pierre Crozat;
sale, Berlin, Ansler & Ruthard, 24 April 1895, lot 2;
with P. Ganz, circa 1900, no. 109;
with Kunsthandlung Günther, Frankfurt am Main, circa 1900;
Oskar von und zu Mühlen, St Petersburg, 1910;
V.A. Heck, Vienna, from whom purchased, 1925;
bears section of unidentified collector's mark, verso

Exhibited

Zürich, Kunstgewerbemuseum, Alte Glasmalerei der Schweiz, 1945/6, catalogue by W. Hugelshofer, cat. no. 248

Literature

F. Thöne, 'Der Basler Monogrammist HB von 1575/7, Hans Bock oder Hans Brand?' in Schweizerisches Institut für Kunstwissenschaft, Jahresbericht 1965, Zürich 1966, p.101, fig. 83

Condition

Unframed. A horizontal crease, centre, and a lighter vertical crease, centre. A loss at the lower part of the right edge and some isolated light brown stains at the lower edge, and in the centre of the right edge. Also, a spot near the upper centre. Some surface dirt in the lower centre and also some light abrasion. Some small pin-type holes in the upper and lower sections. The ink, however, still good and 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.

Catalogue Note

In this elaborate and ambitious composition, the decorative elements on each side are treated differently, probably in order to offer the patron alternatives from which to choose.  Although a number of designs bearing the monogram HB are known (see Thöne, loc.cit), very few fully signed works by Bock survive. In addition to the important 1581 design for a wall painting in this collection (lot 3), there is also another glass design with the same subject as the present work, similarly dated 1573.1

1.Thöne, loc.cit., fig. 69