Venetian School, 18th Century

Estimate

3,000 - 4,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

design for a ceiling decoration: the fall of phaeton
Pen and brown ink and wash, over black chalk; the top corners made up;
bears numbering, recto: 12 and verso: no.10, the mount numbered: 56

Provenance

Sale, London, Christie's, 1 July 1986, lot 135, not reproduced (as Bolognese?, circa 1700)

Condition

Unframed. Laid down on an album page. A few scattered light brown stains, visible in the catalogue. Some small dark black spots in the lower quarter of the sheet. In comparison with the drawing, the illustration is too green- the wash is a warmer brown and the paper a creamier shade. There is a small loss above the pegasus, made up. Another tiny loss on the left edge, to the left of the pegasus. A pin-point hole at the upper right, in the clouds. Another tiny loss at the bottom of the left margin. Generally in good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

There are Venetian characteristics in this work, reminiscent of an artist such as Diziani in the brittle line and angularity of the figures. However, the same energetic, febrile quality can be found in the drawings of Martino Altomonte (born in Naples, trained in Rome, active in Poland and Vienna) or Caspar Franz Sambach (active in Hungary and Vienna) and other artists working in Central Europe in the 18th century.¹

1. See, for examples, T. DaCosta Kaufmann, Central European Drawings, 1680-1800, exhib. cat., Princeton, The Art Museum, et al., 1989-90, p. 44, no. 6; p. 82, no. 22