Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino

With E. Parsons and Sons, London, 1928 (pencil inscription on the verso);
Dan Fellows Platt, Englewood, New Jersey (1873-1938) (L.2066b and L.750a);
Benjamin Sonnenberg,
his sale, New York, Sotheby's, 5 June 1979, lot 108;
purchased by a European private collector,
by inheritance to the present owner 

Window mounted and hinged with two hinges right and left margins. Two pin point holes one in the forehead and curls to the right of the head facing and a vary small crack of the paper to the left of the nose were the ink has slighted damaged the paper in a very small area. Slight surface dirt and tracing of minor foxing. Sold mounted and framed in a wooden gilded and carved 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. 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."

These two separate studies of heads, one seen in profile, seem not to relate to any known paintings by the artist, and they were very possibly drawn from life.  Guercino demonstrates here his skillful and fluent use of the pen and ink, and this sheet shows strong stylistic similarities with drawings of the 1630s.  See for instance the pen and ink study for Alexander the Great wearing a plumed helmet, in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle.¹  On the verso is a small pen and ink sketch of a 'greca' decoration.

^1.  Windsor Castle, Royal Library, inv. no. 2625; N. Turner and C. Plazzotta, Drawings by Guercino from British Collections, exhib. cat., London, British Museum, 1991, pp. 107-108, no. 80, reproduced in colour pl. 15