Follower of Jacques de Gheyn II

These drawings are based on the set of four prints engraved in 1588 by Jacques de Gheyn II, after designs by Goltzius (Hollstein 349-52).  The Goltzius drawing, in reverse, for the St. Mark is in the Albertina, Vienna (see E.K.J. Reznicek, Die Zeichnungen von Hendrick Goltzius, 2 vols., Utrecht 1961, vol. I, p. 257, cat. no. 69, reproduced vol. II, plate 83). 

Since the present drawings seem to be marked with colour notes, it is possible that the artist was intending to make a set of paintings with compositions based on those of the Goltzius/de Gheyn prints.  A somewhat similar series of painted depictions of the Evangelists has been attibuted by van Regteren Altena to Jacques de Gheyn III (see I.Q. van Regteren Altena, Jacques de Gheyn, Three Generations, The Hague/Boston/London 1983, vol. II, pp.162-3, cat. nos. III P 2-5, reproduced vol. III, pp. 234-5, figs 3-6).