A kneeling monk in prayer and a seated monk holding a cross

Details

Abraham Bloemaert (Gorinchem 1564/66-1651 Utrecht)
A kneeling monk in prayer and a seated monk holding a cross
with inscription 'Bloemart' (on the mount)
black chalk, brown wash heightened with white (slightly oxidized in places), partial brown ink framing lines
5¼ x 2 1/8 in. (13.2 x 5.5 cm)

Provenance

John, Earl Spencer (1708-1746), Althorp (L. 1530) (with associated inscription 'A/No. 19' on the verso of the mount); T. Philipe, London, 10 June 1811, part of lot 49.

Brought to you by

Jonathan den Otter

jdenotter@christies.com +44 (0) 207 389 2736

Lot Essay

This sheet is very close to a drawing also showing two monks which was sold in the same lot as the present drawing in the Spencer sale (see Provenance), and which was with Richard Day in 1988 (see J. Bolten, Abraham Bloemaert, c. 1565-1651. The Drawings, Amsterdam, 2007, I, no. 959, II, fig. 959).
We are grateful to Professor Jaap Bolten for confirming the attribution to Abraham Bloemaert. The drawing will be published in Jaap Bolten's forthcoming second supplement on Bloemaert's drawings.

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