Gerrit Pietersz. Amsterdam 1566 - after 1612

L.B. Philips (L.1716, lower recto, and again, verso, with inventory number 351);
Dr Barry Delany (L.350);
Prof. Einar Perman, Stockholm

Laren, Singer Museum, Oude Tekeningen uit de Nederlanden, verzameling Prof. E. Perman, Stockholm, 1962, cat. 84 (as Chrispijn van de Passe)

Carlos van Hasselt, Dutch Drawings of the 17th Century, F. Lugt Collection, Rembrandt and his Century, exh.cat., New York-Paris, 1977-78, p.115

Gerrit Pietersz., also known as Sweelinck, is perhaps best known for his freely-executed, very mannerist drawings in the style of Wtewael, but as Carlos van Hasselt has pointed out (loc.cit.), the artist's style underwent a radical change following his return from Italy in the late 1590s.  Thereafter, he seems to have come under the strong influence of Jacques de Gheyn (see lot 27), and his technique became much more meticulous and engraverly.  The drawing of A Young Girl Carrying a Basket, in the Lugt collection, similarly monogrammed and dated 1607, is extremely close in handling to the present sheet.  As van Hasselt also points out in his catalogue entry for the Lugt drawing (loc.cit.), Pietersz. drawings of this type served as a very clear starting-point for the figure-drawing style of his pupil, Pieter Lastman.