Master of Bressanone

Antonio II Badile (1424-circa 1507), incorporated into his album circa 1500;
Conte Lodovico Moscardo (1611-1681), in whose wunderkammer the album may have been held;
thence by inheritance to Mario Miniscalchi-Erizzo;
by whom sold, Verona circa 1905-7;
with Francis Matthiesen, London, who dismantled the album in the early 1950s;
with Paul Drey Gallery, New York;
with C.G. Boerner, Düsseldorf;
Ian Woodner, acquired in 1972;
his estate sale, London, Christie's, 2 July 1991, lot 68

E. Karet and P. Windows, 'The Antonio II Badile Album of Drawings: A Reconstruction of an Early Sixteenth Century Collection', in Arte Lombarda, no. 154, 2005/3, p. 51, no. 25 v/3 [91], reproduced fig. 64

Unframed. There is perhaps a little surface dirt at the upper and lower edges, but otherwise the drawing is in good condition and the ink is still very 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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This sheet was once part of the extraordinary Moscardo or Antonio II Badile album, which contained almost one hundred early Renaissance drawings.  The drawings were dispersed in the early 1950s, but a replica consisting of the cover of the album and photographs of many of the original works is in the Fondation Custodia at the Frits Lugt Collection, Paris.  The fifteenth century drawings are mostly of the Venetian, Paduan and Veronese schools, with works by the workshop of Giovanni Badile (whose son created the album), Stefano da Verona and the circle of Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini and Marco Zoppo.  Their collation is of particular importance as it is the first known example of an album made by a collector, rather than the artist himself.¹

The attribution to the Master of Bressanone (or Brixen) was suggested by Dr K.G. Boon, on the basis of comparison with a drawing in the Rijksmuseum by an artist in the circle of Jakob von Seckau, the painter who had been involved in the decoration of Brixen Cloister.  The drawing, which also came from the Badile album and is still laid down on the original page, represents the Pentecost.²

We are very grateful to both Peter Windows and Evelyn Karet for their help in the cataloguing of this drawing.

1. Karet and Windows, op. cit., p. 23

2. Inv. no. 1961.49;  K. G. Boon, 'Twee vroege Duitse tekeningen', in Bulletin van het Rijksmuseum, 1964, p. 12, no. 1, fig. 1;  E. Karet and P. Windows, op. cit., p. 49, reproduced fig. 56