From Taddeo to Tiepolo: The Dr. John O’Brien Collection of Old Master Drawings

Francesco Fontebasso

Sheet of hand studies

Auction Closed

January 27, 09:35 PM GMT

Estimate

8,000 - 12,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Francesco Fontebasso

Venice 1707 - 1769

Sheet of hand studies

Black and white chalk on blue-gray paper

412 by 264 mm; 16 1/4 by 10 1/2 in

C.R. Rudolf, London,
his sale, London, Sotheby's, 4 July 1977, lot 144 (as Attributed to Georg Anton Urlaub);
with Pietro Scarpa, Venice;
with Mia Weiner, New York,
where acquired, 1990

Most probably studies for a painting or perhaps a studio exercise, the mise-en-page created here is perhaps unconsciously pleasing, not least thanks to the effect of the chalks set against the blue paper.

Another similar sheet of studies was with Jean-Luc Baroni in 2005.¹

1. Jean Luc Baroni Ltd., An Exhibition of Master Drawings and Oil Sketches, New York and London, 2005, cat. no. 27