Ottavio Leoni
approximately 1578-1630
Portrait of Pietro Altemps
1617
9 1/8 x 6 1/8 inches (231 x 155 mm)
Black chalk, with white chalk, on blue laid paper.
I, 25a
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1909.
Notes
The pensive young boy in this sympathetic portrait is Pietro Altemps (1607- 1691), whose family wereas an important patrons of the artist. Leoni was well known for his delicate portrait drawings on blue paper, which were very fashionable among members of Roman society. The juxtaposition of the boy's highly finished features with the quickly sketched pose and costume is typical of Leoni's drawings. He dated and numbered his portrait drawings: this is number 8, dated 1 September 1617. -- Exhibition Label, from "Life Lines: Portrait Drawings from Dürer to Picasso."
Inscriptions/Markings
Inscribed at lower left, in pen and brown ink, "8i / sitinbre"; at center, "i6i7"; in graphite, at lower left corner, "D. Pietro Altemps" (apparently a transcription of an older pen and ink inscription which shows through from verso); on verso of mount, at lower left, in pen and black ink, "363".
Associated names
Lawrence, Thomas, Sir, 1769-1830, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Bibliography
Baroque Portraiture in Italy: Works from North American Collections, cat. by John T. Spike, 1984-1985, no. 27.
Felice Stampfle, Jacob Bean. Drawings from New York Collections, II, New York, 1967, p. 31-32, no. 26.
Felice Stampfle, Jacob Bean. Drawings from New York Collections, II, New York, 1967, p. 31-32, no. 26.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department