Framed.

Red chalk on brown wash on cream laid paper, double-sided.

With a study of a kneeling figure in red chalk, verso.

Framed with museum glass, thick passe-partout and wooden frame.

Provenance

- Sotheby's, London, “Old Master Drawings Including Property from the Arthur Feldmann Collection”. July 6, 2005, lot 133, illustrated on page 143 of the catalog; private collection, Massachusetts.

- Swann Galleries, New York, “Master Drawings“. Sale 2586, lot 562.

- Private Collection, Madrid.

There is another red chalk drawing by Preti of King David with his Harp, part of a coffered ceiling decoration, possibly for the same project as the current drawing, that is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (accession number 2002.74). Professor John T. Spike has suggested that these may both be for a now lost fresco for the Duomo di Modena.

We would like to thank Professor John T. Spike for confirming the attribution of this drawing to Mattia Preti.