Gherardo Cibo

Prof. Einar Perman, Stockholm

Laren, Singer Museum, Oude Tekeningen uit de Nederlanden, verzameling Prof. E. Perman, Stockholm, 1962, cat. no. 137 (as Flemish Master working in Italy, end of the 16th Century)

Laid down. There are a number of small tears and losses that have been made up throughout the sheet, more visible in the lower left section and in the upper right section. The white heightening has slightly oxidised in some places. There is some light staining scattered throughout, but hardly visible. Overall the medium has remained strong and the overall image is still powerful.
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Born into an important noble Genoese family, Cibo was initially destined for the priesthood, but decided to abandon an ecclesiastical career to pursue his interests as a musician and botanist.  His real identity was only revealed in 1989 by Arnold Nesselrath; previously, many of his drawings were attributed to a variety of Northern artists such as Bril, Cock or Spranger, or listed under the name 'Messer Ulisse Severino da Cingoli.'  This fantastical landscape, typical of Cibo, shows the strong influence of Northern prints on the work of this poetic amateur artist.
The present drawing can be compared with another similar landscape sold in Paris in 2015.¹

^1. Sale, Paris, Christie's, 25 March 2015, lot 24