Francesco Fontebasso

F. Meatyard, London;
Henry Scipio Reitlinger (L.2274a);
possibly his sale, London, Sotheby's, 9 December 1953, lot 88b (an extra lot added to the catalogue following lot 88a, which was catalogued as Sebastiano Ricci and is now in the Metropolitan Museum and formed part of the same album);
with Alister Mathews, Bournemouth, from whom purchased, 1956 (as Ricci)

Newcastle, 1960, no. 59 (as Sebastiano Ricci);
Newcastle, 1964, no. 63 (as Sebastiano Ricci)

M. Magrini, 'Francesco Fontebasso - I Disegni,' Saggi e Memorie, vol. 17, 1990, p. 177, no. 50, reproduced p. 380, fig. 158

Some light foxing by his leg and other places on page; left edge irregular as torn from album. Ink fresh and paper strong.
"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."

This comes from an album of about 60 figure drawings which was dispersed by the London dealer Meatyard in the early 1920s.  The volume was probably an account book as the pages all bear vertical lines, as in a ledger.  Meatyard sold them as Sebastiano Ricci, but they were attributed to Fontebasso by James Byam Shaw¹ and that attribution has been generally accepted.  Other pages are in the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum, the Robert Lehman collection and the Princeton University Art Museum, and more sheets have appeared over the years on the international art market.  The drawings generally show single figures, and some may be based on antique statues, but there seems to be no unifying theme to the group.

A similar figure to the present one, attributed to Fontebasso in the Reliable Venetian Hand, was in the collection of James Byam Shaw, who believed it to represent Apollo.²

 

1.  J. Byam Shaw, 'The Drawings of Francesco Fontebasso,' Arte Veneta, vol. 7, 1954, p. 323, note 1
2.  Ibid., p. 320, fig. 315