German School, early 17th Century

Vittorio Luigi Modesto Ignazio Bonaventura Genevosio (1719-1795), Turin (L.545);

Probably Charles Hippolyte, Vicomte Vilain XIIII (1796-1873),

His son Adrien Stanislas Paul Ghislain, Vicomte Vilain XIIII (1861-1940),

His daughter Marie-Thérèse Ernestine Alphonsine Vilain XIIII (1894-1950),

Thence by descent to the present owners,

Sale, London, Sotheby's, 11 June 1981, lot 46 (as Venetian School, late 16th century; probably by a Northern artist working in Venice)

Although this interesting and accomplished drawing has historically been considered an early Italian work, and has indeed been previously attributed to Mantegna, it actually seems closer in style to some German artists working in the early to mid-17th century, such as Jacob Weyer, who may have worked in Hamburg.

It has been owned since the late 18th or early 19th century by the Vilain XIIII family, the only known example of a family whose name incorporates Roman numerals. This unusual name is recorded from the beginning of the 17th century, but probably originated even earlier. The collection was chiefly formed by Charles (known as 'Hippolyte') Vilan XIIII (1796-1873), largely in Italy between 1830 and 1840, when the Vicomte represented the Belgian crown at Turin, Parma, Lucca and at the court of the King of Naples. The collection was not, though, solely devoted to Italian art, including works from all European schools, acquired both at home and abroad. 83 drawings from the Vilain XIIII collection were sold at Sotheby's in London, on 11 June 1981, but the present drawing has passed directly from the historic Vilain XIIII collection to the present owners.