John Brown
1752-1787
The Dagger Merchant. Verso: faint sketches of a lizard and the back of a woman
10 1/8 x 12 1/2 inches (258 x 318 mm)
Brush and black ink and wash with graphite; verso: graphite.
1971.9
Thaw Collection.
Notes
Watermark: none.
In 1773, Brown, a Scottish draftsman, arrived in Rome after several years touring southern Italy with the wealthy antiquarian Charles Townley. In the city, Brown soon joined the cosmopolitan group of painters--comprising British, Swiss, French, and Danish artists--that made up the circle of Henry Fuseli. All of these artists shared Fuseli's interest in the darker side of Roman life. In this characteristic wash drawing, Brown depicted a man on the back streets of Rome hawking stilettos, the weapon of choice for any self-respecting Italian bravo. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
In 1773, Brown, a Scottish draftsman, arrived in Rome after several years touring southern Italy with the wealthy antiquarian Charles Townley. In the city, Brown soon joined the cosmopolitan group of painters--comprising British, Swiss, French, and Danish artists--that made up the circle of Henry Fuseli. All of these artists shared Fuseli's interest in the darker side of Roman life. In this characteristic wash drawing, Brown depicted a man on the back streets of Rome hawking stilettos, the weapon of choice for any self-respecting Italian bravo. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
Inscriptions/Markings
Numbered in graphite at upper right corner, "56".
Associated names
Suzor, Léonce, former owner.
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Bibliography
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY, "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection", 2017. Exh. cat., no. 26, repr.
Stampfle, Felice, and Cara D. Denison. Drawings from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975, no. 69.
Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Sixteenth Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1969-1971. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1973, p. 110.
Stampfle, Felice, and Cara D. Denison. Drawings from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975, no. 69.
Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Sixteenth Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1969-1971. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1973, p. 110.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department