LOT DETAILS

Materials:

pen and brown ink

Measurements:

7.95 in. (20.20 cm.) (height) by 10.75 in. (27.30 cm.) (width)

Description:

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Condition:

framed; mounted

Literature:

see C. Loisel, see C. Loisel, Musée du Louvre, Musée du Louvre, Département des Arts Graphiques, Département des Arts Graphiques, Inventaire Géneral des Dessins Italys, Inventaire Géneral des Dessins Italys, VII, VII, Ludovico, Ludovico, Agostino, Agostino, Annibale Carracci, Annibale Carracci, Paris 2004, Paris 2004, pp. 298-99, pp. 298-99, No 733; Drawn to Excellence. Renaissance to Romantic Drawings from a Private Collection, No 733; Drawn to Excellence. Renaissance to Romantic Drawings from a Private Collection, Exh. cat. Smith College Museum of Art, Exh. cat. Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Northampton, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, September 2012 – January 2013, September 2012 – January 2013, No 33; The Drawings of Annibale Carracci, No 33; The Drawings of Annibale Carracci, Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, Washington, September 1999 - January 2000, September 1999 - January 2000, pp. 288-89, pp. 288-89, No 95., No 95., The present landscape drawing was attributed to Annibale Carracci by Dr. Nicholas Turner. Until recently the sheet was considered a work by Annibale’s brother Agostino Carracci (1557–1602). However, The present landscape drawing was attributed to Annibale Carracci by Dr. Nicholas Turner. Until recently the sheet was considered a work by Annibale’s brother Agostino Carracci (1557–1602). However, Agostino’s landscape studies never reached the same degree of perfection and artistic quality. On the basis of stylistic criteria, Agostino’s landscape studies never reached the same degree of perfection and artistic quality. On the basis of stylistic criteria, such as the vigorous and expressive lines and the compositional arrangement, such as the vigorous and expressive lines and the compositional arrangement, Nicolas Turner suggests to date the present sheet to the Roman period of the artist around 1600., Nicolas Turner suggests to date the present sheet to the Roman period of the artist around 1600., Both in the composition of the scene and in the technical execution, Both in the composition of the scene and in the technical execution, the artist looked back to Venetian landscape drawings of the 16th century whose most important representatives Titian (c. 1488/1490–15769 and Domenico Campagnola (c. 1500–1564) exerted a big influence on Annibale. Like in the present sheet, the artist looked back to Venetian landscape drawings of the 16th century whose most important representatives Titian (c. 1488/1490–15769 and Domenico Campagnola (c. 1500–1564) exerted a big influence on Annibale. Like in the present sheet, Venetian artists had executed their landscape drawings in pen and brown ink. The half tones and transitions between light and dark were achieved by parallel and/or cross hatchings. Brown and grey washes were less common., Venetian artists had executed their landscape drawings in pen and brown ink. The half tones and transitions between light and dark were achieved by parallel and/or cross hatchings. Brown and grey washes were less common., The numerous landscape drawings which Annibale executed during his Roman period around 1600 resemble each other in technique and composition. For the most part the centre of the depiction is determined by a tree or a group of trees; the surrounding landscape in the background is indicated only vaguely; the foreground is enlivened by figural scenes. The drawing “Landscape with a cowherd and cows” in the Musée du Louvre, The numerous landscape drawings which Annibale executed during his Roman period around 1600 resemble each other in technique and composition. For the most part the centre of the depiction is determined by a tree or a group of trees; the surrounding landscape in the background is indicated only vaguely; the foreground is enlivened by figural scenes. The drawing “Landscape with a cowherd and cows” in the Musée du Louvre, ,Paris (Inv. 2450, ,Paris (Inv. 2450, No 733) shows a comparable arrangement. The Louvre sheet appears sketchier and less elaborated; the arrangement of the figures and the way how space opens to the background are in accordance with the present sheet. The rendering of the leafage and of the tree’s branches reveal undoubtedly the virtuosity of Annibale. The vitality of the vegetation and its dominance compared to the surrounding made Annibale the founder of Italian landscape drawing – a genre which was still at the beginning of its development., No 733) shows a comparable arrangement. The Louvre sheet appears sketchier and less elaborated; the arrangement of the figures and the way how space opens to the background are in accordance with the present sheet. The rendering of the leafage and of the tree’s branches reveal undoubtedly the virtuosity of Annibale. The vitality of the vegetation and its dominance compared to the surrounding made Annibale the founder of Italian landscape drawing – a genre which was still at the beginning of its development., In the „Study of a Tree“ in a New York private collection, In the „Study of a Tree“ in a New York private collection, which can be considered as one of Annibale’s most beautiful nature studies, which can be considered as one of Annibale’s most beautiful nature studies, ,an exact parallel can be found in the virtuous execution of our drawing. (see Exh. cat. Massachusetts 2012, ,an exact parallel can be found in the virtuous execution of our drawing. (see Exh. cat. Massachusetts 2012, the vigorous parallel hatchings emphasizing the dark areas and the heavily accentuated lines, the vigorous parallel hatchings emphasizing the dark areas and the heavily accentuated lines, which represent the shaded contours of the treetrunk are identical in both drawings. In contrast to the New York study which is a mere nature study, which represent the shaded contours of the treetrunk are identical in both drawings. In contrast to the New York study which is a mere nature study, Annibale succeeded in rendering a sense for the weather situation and for the atmospheric condition of the landscape. Dark and bright clouds mingle above the mountains in the background and anticipate an approaching thunderstorm. The dark clouds which are rendered somewhat deeper engulf the mountain and the distant landscape at the right. Only later, Annibale succeeded in rendering a sense for the weather situation and for the atmospheric condition of the landscape. Dark and bright clouds mingle above the mountains in the background and anticipate an approaching thunderstorm. The dark clouds which are rendered somewhat deeper engulf the mountain and the distant landscape at the right. Only later, in his metaphysical landscape studies, in his metaphysical landscape studies, ,as for example in the drawing „Landscape with the rising sun“ of the British Museum (Inv. 1972–7–22–13, ,as for example in the drawing „Landscape with the rising sun“ of the British Museum (Inv. 1972–7–22–13, Cat. 95, Cat. 95, pp. 288–89), pp. 288–89), Annibale reached a compelling synthesis of classical depiction of nature and the description of a constantly changing atmosphere in the sky which is vaulting the landscape. Annibale Carracci achieved a breakthrough in the development of Italian landscape drawing and thus became a model for following generations well into the 18th century., Annibale reached a compelling synthesis of classical depiction of nature and the description of a constantly changing atmosphere in the sky which is vaulting the landscape. Annibale Carracci achieved a breakthrough in the development of Italian landscape drawing and thus became a model for following generations well into the 18th century., We are grateful to Dr. Nicholas Turner for the scientific support., We are grateful to Dr. Nicholas Turner for the scientific support

Provenance:

Collection Max Aaron Goldstein (1870-1941), St Louis, USA (Lugt 2824); auction sale Bassenge, Berlin, 31st May 2013, lot 6235 (as Agostino Carracci); private collection, France., 17th July 2013