In this quick sketch Guercino masterfully captures a working scene as he may have observed it in his local town. Whilst the women are kneading dough, the men concentrate on forming small rolls. The adults’ labours contrast with the attitude of the child watching on tiptoes at the far end of the table. The unusually low viewpoint grants the spectator a glimpse beneath the women’s skirts, revealing their ill-fitting stockings wittily drawn with trembling strokes.

by descent to the artist's nephews, Benedetto Gennari (1633-1715) and Cesare Gennari (1637-1688), 1666; by descent to Cesare’s sons, Gianfrancesco Gennari (1671-1727) and Filippo Antonio Gennari (1677-1751), 1719; by descent to Gianfrancesco's son, Carlo Gennari (1716-1790); presumably Francesco Forni, Bologna (18th century) or Abbé Bonducci, Florence (18th century); presumably acquired from either of those by John Bouverie, England (ca. 1722/1723-1750), 1741 or 1745; by descent to his sister, Anne Hervey (d. 1757); by descent to her son, Christopher Hervey (d. 1786); by descent to his aunt, Elizabeth Bouverie (d. 1798); by descent to Sir Charles Middleton, later 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813); by descent to his son-in-law, Sir Gerard Noel, 2nd Baron Barham (1759-1838); by descent to his son, Charles Noel, later 1st Earl of Gainsborough (1781-1866); by descent to Charles Noel, 3rd Earl of Gainsborough (1850-1926); his sale, Christie's (London), 27 July 1922, part of lot 81 (a box containing 68 drawings by Guercino and others); purchased there by F.R. Meatyard (London) on behalf of Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (£90 for the lot); Witt Bequest 1952

Guercino - Mind to Paper, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 22/02/2007-13/05/2007

Guercino - Mind to Paper, J Paul Getty Museum & Los Angeles & California & USA, 24/10/2006-21/01/2007

The Four Elements, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1996 ...More

Guercino: Mind to paper, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Courtauld Gallery, London, 2006-2007 Los Angeles, 2006
cat. no. 17
ill. on p. 58

Drawings by Guercino from British collections, British Museum, London, 1991, 1991
cat. no. 190
pp. 31 note 92, 32 note 108, 205, 210-12, 222, 276
fig. 190

Drawings by Guercino and other Baroque masters, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1977, 1977
p. 21 ...More

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Collector's mark: collector's mark of Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b)