Lot 27
  • 27

Ferrarese School, Early 16th Century

Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 USD
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Description

  • A priest celebrating mass
  • Pen and brown ink and wash, heightened with white, over black chalk;
    bears old attribution in brown ink, verso: a. del Sarto

Provenance

Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart. (1792-1872);
by inhertance to his grandson, Thomas Fitzroy Phillipps Fenwick (1856-1938);
sold from his estate to Lionel Robinson, Esq.;
thence by inheritance to the present owners

Condition

Unframed. Laid down on blue paper. There are some holes at the centre of the left side, towards the centure of the right half and at the lower centre of the sheet. Some losses to the surface throughout, particularly towards lower left corner. A water-type stain at the upper right corner, and three small red ink stains, lower left, upper centre and centre of upper edge. Some slight oxidisation of the white heightening in some areas. Overall condition not good
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

The restrained, serene quality of this drawing and the use of brown wash heightened with delicate strokes of white heightening are reminiscent of the work of the Ferrarese artist Benevuto Tisi, called il Garofalo (1481-1559).  The design must have been made in preparation for a predella panel or as part of a small cycle of paintings such as that by Garofalo depicting The Mass of San Nicola da Tolentino, in the Pinacoteca Nazionale, Ferrara.1

1.  See A. M. Fioravanti Baraldi, Il Garofalo. Benvenuto Tisi, Pittore (c.1476-1559), Rimini 1993, p. 156, cat. 90