Lavinia Fontana
1552-1614
Portrait of a Bearded Man
4 1/8 x 3 inches (105 x 77 mm)
Red and black chalk. Ruled border in pen and brown ink, laid down, simulated frame in pen and brown ink.
IV, 158g
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1909.
Notes
One of 19 drawings in an album of portrait studies by Fontana (IV, 158a-s), including the artist's self-portrait (IV, 158). Album description: dark blue goatskin, tooled in gold, 14 3/4 x 11 1/4 inches (334 x 284 mm).
This drawing appears on folio 7. The collector's mark in the upper right corner (small figure of an angel?) has not yet been identified. The present drawing is the largest of the male portraits in the album. This, together with the increased amount of the subject's body shown, suggests a more important individual, or one of particular interest to Fontana. Cantaro has considered the present drawing in relation to Fontana's Portrait of a Venetian Magistrate of 1601, (Rome, private collection). Another identification considered by Cantaro is Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605), a Bolognese naturalist.
This drawing appears on folio 7. The collector's mark in the upper right corner (small figure of an angel?) has not yet been identified. The present drawing is the largest of the male portraits in the album. This, together with the increased amount of the subject's body shown, suggests a more important individual, or one of particular interest to Fontana. Cantaro has considered the present drawing in relation to Fontana's Portrait of a Venetian Magistrate of 1601, (Rome, private collection). Another identification considered by Cantaro is Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605), a Bolognese naturalist.
Inscriptions/Markings
Inscribed in pen and brown ink at upper left, Ritrato di Lavinia / propria.
Associated names
Palmerston, Henry Temple, Viscount, 1739-1802, former owner.
Palmerston, Henry John Temple, Viscount, 1784-1865, former owner.
Palmerston, Emily Lamb, Viscountess, 1787-1869, former owner.
Ashley, Evelyn, 1836-1907, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner.
Palmerston, Henry John Temple, Viscount, 1784-1865, former owner.
Palmerston, Emily Lamb, Viscountess, 1787-1869, former owner.
Ashley, Evelyn, 1836-1907, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner.
Bibliography
Cantaro, Maria Teresa, Lavinia Fontana, Bolognese: "Pittora Singolare" 1552-1614, Milan, 1989.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department