Jean Antoine Watteau

François Renaud (L.1042);
Alfred Strolin, Paris,
his sale, Geneva, Kundig, 22 September 1938, lot 58, reproduced; 
Denys Sutton, London,
by descent to the present owner

London, Matthiesen Gallery, Exhibition of French Master Drawings of the 18th Century, 1950, no. 99;
London, Royal Academy, Drawings by Old Masters, 1953, no. 403;
London, Royal Academy, France in the 18th Century, 1968, no. 780

E. de Goncourt, Catalogue de l'oeuvre peint, dessiné et gravé d'Antoine Watteau, Paris 1875, under no. 772;
D. Sutton, 'A self portrait of Watteau', The Stapeldon Magazine, 1939, no. 65, p. 349 - 352, reproduced;
K.T. Parker and J. Mathey, Antoine Watteau, Catalogue complet de son oeuvre dessiné, Paris 1957, vol. II, p. 378, no. 916, reproduced;
M. Cormack, The Drawings of Watteau, London, et al., 1970, p. 18, under no. 1; 
D. Eckardt, Antoine Watteau, Berlin 1973, under no. 1, reproduced;
P. Bjurström, 'Two More Drawings by Watteau', [Stockholm] Nationalmuseum Bulletin, III, 3, 1979, p. 146, fig. 10; p. 148, note 18;
P. Rosenberg and L.-A. Prat, Antoine Watteau, catalogue raisonnée des dessins, Milan 1996, vol. II, p. 1100, no. 644, reproduced; p. 976, under no. 575

Laid down. Tiny strip made up at top right to straighten top edge. Small loss top left edge. A line across top more visible with naked eye - perhaps an old fold.
"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."

This very refined drawing has traditionally be catalogued as a self-portrait of Watteau, but Rosenberg and Prat do not accept that.  Instead they point out that it seems to be the same model as is studied twice on a larger sheet in a private collection.¹  It seems also related to the head engraved by P. Filloeul, in the same direction, for the Livre de différents caractères de têtes, no. 22.  Rosenberg and Prat point out that another drawing of a head of a man, also traditionally called a self-portrait, which is rather different from the present head, was also engraved by Filloeul.²  Neither is identified by the engraver as a portrait of Watteau, which it would seem likely he would have done if they were. 

Rosenberg and Prat believe this to be a late work of circa 1719-20.  It has an immediacy and individuality which make one long to be able to identify the sitter, and understandable that it has been hoped to be Watteau himself.

1.  Rosenberg and Prat, op. cit., vol. III, p. 976, no. 575, reproduced
2.  Ibid., vol. III, p. 1072, no. 628