Giovanni Biliverti (Florence 1584-1644)

A satyr, a woman and a winged putto

Details

Giovanni Biliverti (Florence 1584-1644)
A satyr, a woman and a winged putto
with inscription in brown ink 'Biliferti' (top)
black and red chalk, pen and brown ink
6 ½ x 5 in. (16.4 x 12.7 cm)

Provenance

Dr. G.L. Laporte, New York (L. 1170).
Mathias Polakovits, Paris (1921-1987) (L. 3561).
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 2 July 1997, lot 7.
with Margot Gordon, New York, 1998, where acquired by the present owner.

Lot Essay

This lively composition shows three figures in a tight close-up: a woman holding a branch, a putto playing a trumpet and a satyr. Biliverti explored a similar ensemble in his painting Venus, Cupid and Pan (sold at Sotheby's, London, 2 July 2012, lot 29), but the woman in the present drawing should be identified as an allegory of Fame, rather than Venus, as described by Cesare Ripa.

More from Old Master & British Drawings

View All