Abraham Bloemaert

Dr. C.R. Rudolf  (L.2811b) twice: on the mount and on the backing;
with Paul Drey, London, 1971

M.G. Roethlisberger, Abraham Bloemart and His Sons, Paintings and Prints, Ghent 1993, vol. I, p. 94, under no. 48 and p. 422, D7, and reproduced vol. II, fig. 108;
J. Bolten, Abraham Bloemart, c.1565-1651, The Drawings, Leiden 2007, vol. I, p. 16, no. 112 reproduced vol. II, p. 63

Laid down. Overall in quite good condition, slight surface dirt and minor light staining in three places at the top, though these marks may also possibly be touches of the wash used in the drawing. A tiny tear visible at the left margin towards the top. The drawing is fresh. Sold on its Rudolf Collection mount, and in a modern wooden frame.
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Marcel Roethlisberger (loc. cit.) noted that this drawing was not related to any known paintings or engravings by Abraham Bloemart.  He also pointed out that a painting of the same subject and of a square format was in the sale of Maas de Groot in the Hague.¹  Jaap Bolten, in the catalogue of the artist's drawings, writes that the date 1601 was probably put on at a later moment.  He also feels that although there are a number of figures sketched in black chalk on the background, Bloemart treats the theme of the Circumcision: 'as an intercessorial representation, instead of the usual narrative scene with a large crowd in a lofty temple'.  He also points out the existence of a comparable female figure to the woman in the left foreground of the present sheet, in a red chalk drawing in the Martin von Wagner-Museum (inv. no. 9334).²

1. The Hague, Maas de Groot, 22 December 1924, lot 31

2. see Literature, vol. i, p. 51, under no. 99, reproduced vol. II, fig. 99b