DUTCH SCHOOL, CIRCA 1600 | The meal of the rich man and the poor Lazarus

Prof. Einar Perman, Stockholm

Laren, Singer Museum, Oude Tekeningen uit de Nederlanden, Verzameling Prof. E. Perman, Stockholm, 1962, no. 56, reproduced pl. 29 (as Henrik Hondius I)

N.M. Orenstein, Hendrick Hondius (Duffel 1573 – The Hague 1650) and the Business of Prints, Ph. D. dissertation, 1992, p. 492, Doubtful Attributions, no. 1

Laid down, and then window mounted. Lightly foxed, especially towards bottom of sheet, but otherwise in very good, fresh 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.
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The subject, taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke (16:19–31), is the parable of the rich man and the poor beggar called Lazarus.  Here we see the rich man dining sumptuously, while the begger is sent on his way.  In the biblical story, the rich man gets his payback after both have died, and are suffering in Hades: he sees Lazarus near some water, and asks him to moisten his parched lips for him, but is told that just as he refused the beggar food in life, so his own request for water would be denied.  The drawing was perhaps made as the design for one of a series of stained glass roundels or prints illustrating the parables.