Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione called Il Grechetto

I.O. Wessner (L.2562a);
sale, London, Sotheby's, 7 July 1999, lot 50

Overall in fairly good condition. There is an area, lower centre, where the paper has wrinkled, perhaps due to a glue stain where the sheet may have been previously laid down. The lower left corner has been made up with another piece of paper. There is slight foxing upper left and some surface dirt throughout the sheet. The pen and ink and wash remain fresh. Sold unframed.
"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."

The present drawing does not relate to a painting but stylistically it can be compared to a series of landscape drawings that are numbered and are said to form part of an album of drawings that have been dated circa 1647-51.  Although our drawing bears the number 17, it is smaller in size than those of the album.  It does, however, share stylistic similarities with the group, most notably with a Pastoral Landscape.¹

 

1. Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, Master Draughtsman of the Italian Baroque, exhib. cat., Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1971, p. 78, no. 32, reproduced p. 80, fig. 32