This drawing was purchased by Robert Witt in 1952 as ‘Italian? Or Flemish school’. Frits Lugt suggested it could be by H. (Hieronymus?) Francken. An inscription in Witt’s hand on the verso of the sheet implies he thought it could be by Luca Cambiaso, while in Spain. The drawing had been missing since 2001 and was only recovered in 2023; recent in-person examination has raised questions about whether the drawing is Italian or Flemish, and any possible attributions. Theodoor van Thulden has been suggested but with no strong comparisons found. Pietro Sorri has also been suggested, but with no similar drawings by him known.
Perhaps coincidentally there is a series of three Diepenbeeck drawings from Luke 16 at the Morgan Library (https://www.themorgan.org/drawings/item/283451). Perhaps worth asking Saskia van A?
Walter T. Spencer, London (1863-1936); purchased from him by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), date unknown; Witt Bequest, 1952; noted missing December 2001; recovered May 2023
Artwork Literature
Anthony Blunt, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956, p. 134 (as Flemish 17th-century)
Artwork Further Information
There is a watermark at centre: a small narrow mark terminating in a heart - possibly a crossbow, similar to Briquet 829-831 (Lanzo 1403, Grenoble 1410 and Grenoble 1417 respectively) though this mark is smaller, at 35 mm long.
The link to the object record on The Courtauld Gallery’s website is: https://gallerycollections.courtauld.ac.uk/object-d-1952-rw-818
TroisCrayons September 3, 2025 5:05 pm
Instagram comment by @nicolasnormand2
‘Not Thulden or Flemish in my opinion’
TroisCrayons September 3, 2025 5:04 pm
Instagram comment by @jane_lydbury
‘Reminds me of Jan Lievens’
TroisCrayons September 3, 2025 5:03 pm
Instagram comment by @henryempm
‘Frans Francken the Younger?’
Tom Nevile July 29, 2025 2:19 pm
I would go along with the Flemish idea. The spirited penwork and abbreviated facial features remind me of Abraham van Diepenbeeck (https://www.pubhist.com/w32528; https://collections.mfa.org/objects/524956/the-flood?ctx=a1973521-f234-4b2e-8b49-21b88ec9e708&idx=24 ; https://www.fondationcustodia.fr/18-Abraham-van-Diepenbeeck-832).
Perhaps coincidentally there is a series of three Diepenbeeck drawings from Luke 16 at the Morgan Library (https://www.themorgan.org/drawings/item/283451). Perhaps worth asking Saskia van A?