- 438
Milanese School, 17th Century
Estimate
3,000 - 4,000 GBP
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Description
- Belshazzar's Feast
- Pen and brown ink and red wash heightened with white and red gouache over black chalk on pink washed paper, squared in black chalk for transfer;
inscribed in pen and brown ink, upper right: Mene Tekel Parsin
Provenance
With Hal O'Nians, London, exhibition 1966, no. 52 (as Pozzoserrato),
from whom purchased by Ralph Holland
from whom purchased by Ralph Holland
Exhibited
Newcastle, 1974, no. 50 (as Milanese School, c. 1590-1620)
Catalogue Note
Ralph Holland's notes suggest a possible attribution to Giovanni Battista Discepoli, comparing it with a sheet in the Metropolitan Museum, New York.1 The choice of vibrant red wash and white heightening is also employed by Sigismondo Caula and in technique the present work seems closer to his hand; compare with a drawing sold Milan, Sotheby's, 12 June 2006, lot 25.
The Biblical story of Belshazzar's Feast comes from the Book of Daniel, Chapter 5, with the inclusion of the prophetic 'writing on the wall' Mene Tekel Parsin, implying impending doom.
1. Joseph sold by his Brethren, inv. no. 80.3.333; J. Bean, 17th Century Italian Drawings..., New York 1979, p. 126, no. 159, reproduced