
Inscribed by the artist in a banderole at upper right in pen and black ink, "Er tut Doch hupschlich [?]" Inscribed on the verso of the old mount by Jonathan Richardson, Jr., in pen and brown ink, "Sy tue doch Scripsthuch. / Be thou then a Lamb:piece. i.e. Behave Moderstly. / The Severity of which Rebuke her Eyes correct. / For, as Old Morley said (when He Courted the Heiress of the / D. of Newcastle for my L. Oxford's Son & she told him, / on his proposing this Match to Her, that she would or: / :der him to be flung into the Well,) to himself, on his / observing her Eyes, Ah! Girl I have Thee; for as He / told my Father & me, at his House at Halstead, in / telling us the whole Progress of this most Important / Business (for it occasioned the Breach between Oxford / & Bolingbroke, & of consequence probably defeated the bring: / :ing in of the Pretender, as Oxford was, now, too well pro / :vided for, to risk a Civil War) The Tongue may Lye, / but Eyes will Tell Truth. A strikly True, & most Curious / Anecdote this!"; below this in pen and black ink, in J.C. Robinson's hand, "Ey tut doch suptlich" / "Eh touch softly", and "The above is in the handwriting of / Jonathan Richardson Junr. / Collections / J. Richardson / Rogers / Sir T. Lawrence / W Russell / JCRobinson apl 18.1885".
Denison, Cara D., and Helen B. Mules, with the assistance of Jane V. Shoaf. European Drawings, 1375-1825. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1981, no. 10, repr.
100 Master drawings from the Morgan Library & Museum. München : Hirmer, 2008, no. 64, repr. [Achim Riether]
Watermark: none visible through lining.
Formerly attributed to Master of the Housebook, 15th cent. and Israhel van Meckenem, d. 1503.
Master of the Housebook, active 15th century, Formerly attributed to.
Meckenem, Israhel van, d. 1503, Formerly attributed to.
Richardson, Jonathan, 1665-1745, former owner.
Richardson, Jonathan, 1694-1771, former owner.
Rogers, Charles, 1711-1784, former owner.
Lawrence, Thomas, Sir, 1769-1830, former owner.
Russell, William, 1800-1884, former owner.
Robinson, John Charles, Sir, 1824-1913, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.