Signed and dated at lower right: "C. Corot. / octobre. 1844.".
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY, "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection", 2017. Exh. cat., no. 60, repr.
Stampfle, Felice, and Cara D. Denison. Drawings from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975, no. 78.
100 Master drawings from the Morgan Library & Museum. München : Hirmer, 2008, no. 82, repr. [Jennifer Tonkovich]
Corot's drawn portraits depicted primarily friends and family members and were made for both study and pleasure. While his portraits of women are more numerous--and typically more successful-- this depiction of a seated man clutching a handkerchief, whose identity is not known, is among his most robust portrait studies. In contrast to the cool formality of Ingres's portraits, Corot's rendering suggests an informal and empathetic rapport with the sitter. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
Constantin, Abbé, former owner.
Desrouges, André, former owner.
Schweitzer, M. R., former owner.
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.