Hans Caspar Lang

Estimate

5,000 - 7,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Hans Caspar Lang
the crucifixion;with two other drawings:b) Follower of Lindtmayer, Horatius Cocles;c) the promise of abraham, after Christoph Murer
Signed (partly in monogram) and dated, lower center: HCLang V Schaffhausen / in Friburg / .15.93.
all pen and black in;
a) horizontal fold;
b) over traces of black chalk;
c) horizontal fold; bears monogram: TS

Provenance

b) D. Schindler (L.793)

Literature

a) P. Boesch, 'Hans Caspar Lang von Schaffhausen', in Schaffhauser Beiträge zur vaterländischen Geschichte, vol. 25, 1948, reproduced fig. 7;
b) F. Thöne, Daniel Lindtmayer 1552-1606/7, Munich/Zürich 1975, pp. 244, 316, cat. no. 442, fig. 48

Condition

All unframed a) Laid down. Signs of horizontal creases across centre and towards bottom. Silght damage and staining above signature and near Christ's head. Surface slightly dirty, but ink otherwise good and strong. b) Laid down. Repaired tear, bottom centre. Some surface cracking and staining, upper centre and top right. Two small holes, left centre. Otherwise ink good and strong. c) Laid down. Light brown stains, top centre and a few other small marks throughout. Horizontal creases across centre, otherwise good and fresh.
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

Scenes of crucifixion are unknown in Lang's works, but in the tradition of his time, he made many copies of works by other artists during the course of his travels. Between 1592-95 he worked in Freiburg-im-Breisgau, hence the inscription on the present drawing.

The second, fragmentary drawing, showing the central scene of Horatius Cocles defending the bridge with an ornamental border to the left side, records an original design by Lindtmayer, which also only survives in fragmentary form without any of the decorative border.¹ Thöne dates the original design to 1572, when Lindtmayer also made another drawing incorporating the same border as is seen in the present copy.

The composition of the third drawing appears to derive from a lost series of designs by Christoph Murer illustrating the story of Abraham. Thöne proposed that the present work was executed circa 1610 and that the TS monogram might indicate that the drawing belonged to the Schaffhausen glass painter, T. Schryber.

1. Weimar, Schlossmuseum; Thöne, op.cit., pp. 147-8, 316, fig. 47