Hendrick Goltzius

Emile Verrijken, Antwerp;
sale, London, Phillips, 8 July 1998, lot 54; 
sale, London, Christie's South Kensington, 10 December 2004, lot 187 (as circle of Goltzius, acquired by the present owner)

F. Antonovich, L'Art à la Cour de Rodolphe II, Paris 1992, no. 266;
E.K.J. Reznicek, 'Drawings by Hendrick Goltzius, Thirty Years Later: Supplement to the 1961 catalogue raisonné,' Master Drawings, XXXI, no.3, 1993, pp. 238-9, no. K117a, fig. 31

Slightly irregularly cut, especially at sides. Chalk somewhat rubbed. Small area in top right corner torn off and reattached, and small repaired loss, centre of left edge. Chalk surface rather rubbed overall. Paper a little discoloured in parts. Sold in a modern frame.
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.

As Reznicek noted (loc. cit.) this drawing relates to the 1596 engraving, in the same direction but smaller in scale, by Jan Saenredam, after Goltzius (fig. 1).¹  He also pointed out that the print includes attributes in the corners, and a subsidiary scene with Mercury and Argus (in both cases absent from the drawing), and that, like other rather finely drawn, highly finished sheets relating to print designs², the surface of the chalk has suffered significantly.  Taking this into account, Reznicek concluded, surely correctly, that this drawing is an autograph work by Goltzius, a conclusion endorsed by the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorisches Documentatie, The Hague, where the drawing is filed as the study by Goltzius for the Saenredam print.  Despite its very finished appearance, the preparatory nature of the drawing is confirmed by the two studies on the verso, which appear to explore alternative positions for Juno's right arm.

 1.  Hollstein 65; Bartsch III.241.64; 317 by 247 mm, including the borders and text

2.  E.g. the drawing of David with the Head of Goliath, in the Seger Collection, Reznicek, op. cit., no. K17a