Horse and Rider, and a Second Horse in Profile to Right

Since at least the time of the Pierre-Jean Mariette (1694-1774), the drawing has been given to the Flemish sculptor Giovanni Bologna, who was mostly active in Florence, under which attribution it was also kept at the Morgan. The dates inscribed on the mount probably refer to Giambologna’s dates of birth and death. Mariette himself probably joined two separate studies of horses and extended the drawing at top, lightly sketching in the head of the rider in order to complete the composition. He probably also removed the inscription “Donõ il Bilib[erti]:” from an old mount and inserted it at lower left. This puzzling inscription seems to suggest that the drawing was a gift by the artist Giovanni Biliverti to a former owner. The drawing exhibits a north European influence and may possibly be by Giambologna, who remains little known as a draftsman, as well be by Biliverti himself, even though nothing directly comparable in style is known.