- 340
Anton Raphael Mengs
Estimate
7,000 - 9,000 GBP
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Description
- Anton Raphael Mengs
- Oedipus at Colonnos before the Temple of the Eumenides
- Pen and brown ink and wash and faded blue wash, heightened with white;
signed in Greek lettering: Μ Ε Ν Ξ;
bears inscription in brown ink, verso, in the hand of Sir Thomas Robinson:
This drawing representing Oedipus before the Temple
of ye Furies at Corinth was done by Mengs at Rome
as an Imitation of the Antique in order to be engraved.
Pichler accordingly copied it for me, (who procured the
drawing of Mengs himself) in 1763: upon a fine onyx
P Montagu has it's Companion, Priam at Achilles's -
feet, drawn by Mengs & engraved by Pichler
Provenance
Acquired either from the artist directly or from Anton Pichler by Sir Thomas Robinson, Bt. (his inscription verso);
Robert Redford of Drummond Street, Montreal,
his sale and others, London, Christie's, 25 February 1969, lot 174 (as Pichler), purchased by Ralph Holland
Robert Redford of Drummond Street, Montreal,
his sale and others, London, Christie's, 25 February 1969, lot 174 (as Pichler), purchased by Ralph Holland
Exhibited
Newcastle, 1974, no. 114;
London, 1975, no. 73, reproduced, plate XXXIII;
London, Kenwood, Anton Raphael Mengs 1728-1779 and his British Patrons, 1993, no. 39, reproduced
London, 1975, no. 73, reproduced, plate XXXIII;
London, Kenwood, Anton Raphael Mengs 1728-1779 and his British Patrons, 1993, no. 39, reproduced
Literature
F.M. Dolce, Descrizione istorica del museo di Cristiano Dehn, Rome 1772, vol. III, under letter P 37;
A. Collas, Trésor de numismatique et de glyptique ou Recueil général de médailles, monnaies, pierre gravées, bas-reliefs, etc., tant anciens que modernes, les plus interessants sous le rapport de l'art et de l'histoire, Paris 1836, p. 7, no. 7;
H. Rollett, Die drei Meister der Gemmoglyptik; Antonio, Giovanni und Luigi Pichler. Eine biographisch-kunstgeschichtliche Darstellung, mit dem Bildnisse Giovanni Pichler's nach einem Intaglio Luigi Pichler's, Vienna 1874, p. 10, no. 40;
G. Lippold, Gemmen und kameen des altertums und der neuzeit; in vergrösserungen herausgegeben von Georg Lippold. Mit 1695 abbildungen auf 167 tafeln, Stuttgart 1922, p. 185, pl. CXLIII, no. 7;
Clifford, 1974, p. 354;
S. Roettgen, Anton Raphael Mengs 1728-1779 Das malerische und zeichnerische werk, Munich 1999, vol. I, pp. 44-45, no. Z65, reproduced
A. Collas, Trésor de numismatique et de glyptique ou Recueil général de médailles, monnaies, pierre gravées, bas-reliefs, etc., tant anciens que modernes, les plus interessants sous le rapport de l'art et de l'histoire, Paris 1836, p. 7, no. 7;
H. Rollett, Die drei Meister der Gemmoglyptik; Antonio, Giovanni und Luigi Pichler. Eine biographisch-kunstgeschichtliche Darstellung, mit dem Bildnisse Giovanni Pichler's nach einem Intaglio Luigi Pichler's, Vienna 1874, p. 10, no. 40;
G. Lippold, Gemmen und kameen des altertums und der neuzeit; in vergrösserungen herausgegeben von Georg Lippold. Mit 1695 abbildungen auf 167 tafeln, Stuttgart 1922, p. 185, pl. CXLIII, no. 7;
Clifford, 1974, p. 354;
S. Roettgen, Anton Raphael Mengs 1728-1779 Das malerische und zeichnerische werk, Munich 1999, vol. I, pp. 44-45, no. Z65, reproduced
Condition
There are some minor nicks to the lower right corner and right edge of the sheet and a small pin prick hole to the left margin.
The original blue wash has faded somewhat, although this does not detract in any way from the drawing which is otherwise in good condition.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
This drawing provides a wonderful insight into Mengs' fascination with the Antique, undoubtedly encouraged by his friend, the prominent 18th-century archaeologist and art historian, Johann Joachim Winckelmann. As the inscription on the verso states, this drawing was clearly intended as a design for "a fine onyx" cameo, to be executed by the celebrated Tyrolean gem cutter Anton Pichler (1697-1779). A plaster relief, seemingly identical in subject, is in the collection of the Fogg Museum.1
1. Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Mrs. A.D. Hurd, inv. no. 1929.336.101