Austrian School
17th century
Diana and Her Nymphs and Cupid
4 1/2 x 2 15/16 inches (115 x 75 mm)
Pen and brown-black ink and wash, watercolor, with opaque lead white watercolor (partially oxidized), over graphite, on laid paper.
1981.32
Bequest of Mrs. Ernest Ash.
Notes
This depiction of Diana accompanied by nymphs is inscribed with the name Simon Merkenbenk and the date 1632. Thomas da Costa Kauffman suggested the sheet comes from a Stammbuch, or family album, since this is the only sheet associated with the artist's name. Such albums of drawings were increasingly common in the seventeenth century in the Netherlands, Germany, and central Europe, and some of them are sources for unique drawings by otherwise unknown artists.
Inscriptions/Markings
Watermark: none.
Signed at lower left, in pen and brown ink, "Simon Merkenbenk(?) / Cobach(?) 1632 (or 52)"; inscribed on verso, in graphite, "No 12".
Signed at lower left, in pen and brown ink, "Simon Merkenbenk(?) / Cobach(?) 1632 (or 52)"; inscribed on verso, in graphite, "No 12".
Associated names
Merkenbenk, Simon, Formerly attributed to.
Glaser, Curt, 1879-1943, former owner.
Ash, Ernest, Mrs., former owner.
Glaser, Curt, 1879-1943, former owner.
Ash, Ernest, Mrs., former owner.
Bibliography
Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Twentieth Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1981-1983. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1984, p. 233.
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department