Joseph Nollekens

Arthur Mitchell Sackler (1913-1987), 
sale, New York, Sotheby's, 'European Terracotta & Bronze Sculpture from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections', 29 January 2010, lot 572 (part of lot)

Between 1761 and 1770 Nollekens lived in Rome. While there he studied both ancient and modern sculpture in depth, including a second century marble statue in the collection of the Ludovisi family from which the present drawing is derived.¹

Popular with grand tourists, the ancient sculpture was then believed to represent Paetus and Arria and in 1771, after his return to London, Nollekens exhibited a terracotta statue under this title at the Royal Academy. Today, scholars consider the group to be a Gaul stabbing himself after having killed his wife to protect her from being taken prisoner.² 

The present drawing is inscribed 'Mortimer Street' on the reverse. Nollekens lived at 44 Mortimer Street after his return from Italy. 

1. The sculpture was discovered in the grounds of the Villa Ludovisi in Rome in the early 17^th century. It is now housed in the Museo Nazionale delle Terne, Rome.

2. see Sale, New York, Sotheby's, 29 January 2010, lot 511.