Johan Tobias Sergel
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A bachanal
Black chalk on paper, watermark Fleur-De-Lis (similar but not identicle to Heawood 1639 and 1640; undated), stamped with an ”S” in an escutcheon surrounded by a wreath (black ink), on the reverse, a stamp selectively used by Sergel for drawings in his own collection (Lugt Supplement 2339b), and numbered ”No 57” (brown ink)
35.5 x 55.2 cm. (a folded flap of cirka 60 mm. at the top)
Provenance
In the artist´s possession at the time of his death.
More information
Chief Curator Ulf Cederlöf, Department of Prints & Drawings, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm dates this previously unrecorded drawing to circa 1768. According to Cederlöf the subject is based on an antique sarcophagus relief which was found in the enviroment of Naples in the 16th century, after which Marcantonio Raimondi made an engraving. (Secret cabinet, The archeological museum, Naples). :Cederlöf believes that the drawing may have been executed during Sergel´s journey to Naples from Rome during the autumn 1768.