The Annunciation (after Veronese)

Details

Literatur:
Ugo Ruggeri, “Drawings by Valentin Lefèvre”, in: Master Drawings, New York 1988, XXVI, Kat.-Nr. 18, Tafel 10;
Ugo Ruggeri, Valentin Lefèvre. Dipinti, disegni, incisioni, Manerba 2001, S. 152, Kat.-Nr. D. 53, mit Abb.

Provenienz:
Conte di Bardi, Italien, im Unterrand mittig mit dem Stempel (Lugt 336);
Sir Charles Bagot (1781-1843), Paris, St. Petersburg und La Haye, auf der Sammlermontage unten rechts mit dem Monogramm (Lugt 493);
Christie’s, London, Auktion, 9.7.1982, Los 28 (als “School of Veronese”);
Christie’s, London, Auktion, 7.12.1993, Los 74;
Europäische Privatsammlung, auf Unterlage mit dem Sammlerstempel “FB mit Ginkgoblatt im Oval” (noch nicht von Lugt/Fondation Custodia veröffentlicht).

Description

The composition is based on an Annunciation scene by Paolo Veronese from 1578 (with the collaboration of Benedetto Caliari), which was formerly in the possession of Viscount Norbury Williams, Sheffield. This drawing should probably be seen in connection with Lefèvre’s etchings from the collection “Opera selectiora quae Titianus et Paulus Calliari Veronensis invenerunt et pinxerunt”, which reproduced 53 works by Veronese, Tintoretto and Titian as prints and was published in Venice by Jacob van Campen in 1682. Compositionally, there are also similarities with the well-known Annunciazione in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Venice, where the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove also appears in a central position. In an old collector’s mount. – Smoothed vertical centrefold. Faint brownstaining in places. Paper partly with small thinning, isolated tiny holes (probably due to the incised drawing). Individual creases and creases. In good condition.