
Signed and dated at lower left, "J. J. DB. 1797"; on face of old mount, "1975 J. Meyer".
Watermark: Horn with strap inside shield surmounted by crown, over letters "DAH".
"Brief Chronological Description of a collection of original drawings and sketches by the old masters of the different schools of Europe: from the revival of art in Italy in the XIIIth to the XIXth century/ formed by the late Mr. William Mayor; the result of upwards of fifty years' experience and research", London 1875, no. 595.
Another very similar sheet of studies of heads was engraved in reverse by Ignace Joseph de Claussin (1795-1844) in 1817 and it is possible that the present sheet was made in connection with a yet-to-be-identified print.
Mayor, William, 1826-1892, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.