Early 17th Century Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Provenance: Collection from central Italy in the 17th century (Stamp - probably L. 3900 - on the front, top left) Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792), stamped lower right (L. 2364) This mythological drawing from the collection of Sir Joshua Reynolds has long been attributed to Pietro da Cortona, as evidenced by the inscriptions at the bottom and on the reverse. While the Italian collection stamp (which predates Reynolds') suggests that this drawing was executed in Italy in the 17th century, it seems to us to be much closer to the drawings produced in Rome in the entourage of Simon Vouet. Its numerous hatchings, evocative of burin work, and its luminous composition lead us to suggest an attribution to Claude Mellan, who befriended Vouet on his arrival in Rome in 1624. 1. The stay in Vouet's studio, an important phase in Claude Mellan's training Claude Mellan was born on May 23, 1598 in Abbeville, where his father worked as a boilermaker and copper planer. In 1615, at the age of 17, he was apprenticed to Jean V Leclerc, a mediocre Parisian engraver. Nine years later, in 1624, he left for Rome with the support of Provencal scholar Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc. Having established contact with the engraver Francesco Villamena (who died two months after his arrival in Rome), Mellan quickly made friends with the painter Simon Vouet, then at the height of his reputation in Rome thanks to his recent appointment as director of the Accademia de San Luca. Simon Vouet and Gian Lorenzo Bernini (known as Le Bernin...

We thank Carolina Trupiano Kowalczyk for her help in describing this drawing and for confirming the attribution to Francesco Furini; her presentation (in Italian) is available on req...

While other drawings kept in various European public collections can be attributed to the same draughtsman, this artist remains mysterious and anonymous. This masterly sheet was attributed by the Marquis de Chennevières, one of its first collector, to Jean-Baptiste Forest (1635 - 1712), a French painter who became an Academician in 1674, but this attribution does not seem relevant anymore based upon the few known drawings of this rare artist. The dreamlike character of this landscape points to a Flemish artist...

We thank Carolina Trupiano Kowalczyk for her help in describing this drawing and for confirming the attribution to Francesco Furini; her presentation (in Italian) is available on req...

Charcoal, ink wash, and white heightening on light cream-colored card stock. Scattered small spots of foxing throughout, notations in Italian both recto and verso. White heightening...

Southern German School, Circle of Sustris or Gundelach, Archangel Michael defending the devil Impressive Drawing on Paper (on the back glued behind) Passepartout 52.6 x 38 cm

This rare mural was painted in China over four centuries ago, and is an exquisite example of Buddhist art. The enlightened Buddha is shown standing at the center of the painting, dressed in colorful robes. Female attendants...

Original red chalk on archival paper drawing of a reclining female nude by the French artist, André Derain. Atelier stamp of André Derain lower right....

Italian school circa 1600 Saint Bonaventure Gouache on paper, faded 10.5 x 8.5 cm, oval shape In a very charming baroque frame : 20 x 15 cm oval shap...

Italian School 17th Century A bearded man arguing Pen and black ink on paper 9.5 x 6.5 In an ancient framed (restorations in the mould) 17.5 x 13.5 cm This drawing appears to have ...

Italian School beginning of 17th Century A Female Saint with an Angel, Saint Teresa of Avila (?) Brown ink and brown wash on paper 6.5 x 4.2 cm O...

Francois Boucher (French, 1703 – 1770) Paysanne en buste de profil Black crayon, heightened with white on paper 8.5/8 x 6.7/8in. (22 x 17.3cm.) (to mount edge) Provenance: The auth...