A woman in profile to the left holding a fan

Details

Sebastian Vrancx (Antwerp 1573-1647)
A woman in profile to the left holding a fan
with inscriptions 'No56.' (recto) and 'Sc: fiamminga' on the mount
black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash
5 7/8 x 4 in. (149 x 101 mm.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Els Verhaak and Marieke de Winkel have identified the costume as Spanish. Drs. de Winkel adds that the woman's hairstyle dates from about 1620 and to judge from her dress, a mante with a veil, she is a widow of the upper classes. The handkerchief she holds in her left hand is also a Spanish status symbol. Drs. Verhaak compares the figure type in the present drawing to a figure in the fifth print of Fashions of different nations (Hollstein 237-246) by Pieter de Jode after Sebastian Vrancx, datable to circa 1600-1610. The dimensions of the figure in the drawing correspond exactly to those of the figure in the print. No other figure drawings by Vrancx are known.
We are very grateful to Peter Schatborn for suggesting the attribution and preparing this note.

More from Old Master and 19th Century Drawings including Andrea del

View All