Salomon Gautier, Amsterdam and Paris (1st half of 18th century), L.2978; possibly Jonathan Richardson, the elder, London (1665-1745)? [although his name may have been suggested as the mount was regarded as his, now believed to be Gautier's]; Thomas Hudson, London (1701-1779), L.2432; possibly any number of lots (described very vaguely but several list drawings by Lanfranco) at his estate sale, Langford (Covent Garden), 15-27 March 1779; possibly Richard Houlditch (d. 1760) [although his name may have been suggested as a misreading of Hudson's collector's mark]; Spencer (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b, n.d.; Witt Bequest 1952

Witt wrote on the verso of the support that this came from Richardson and Houlditch's collections, but it seems he mistook Gautier's mount for Richardson's, and possibly also Hudson's mark for Houlditch's, as there is no other evidence of Houlditch in the provenance and it would be strange for Witt to not mention the obvious collector's mark on the recto that belongs to Hudson, unless he mistook it for someone else's. Both Richardson and Houlditch's sales catalogues are so vague in their titles that it is impossible to say whether these drawings were included - for instance, Houlditch's posthumous sale on 12-14 February 1760 lists on the first night, lot 16 'Three by H. Carracci, Lanfranc, &c.'.

Watermark: Watermark: unable to check due to mount.

Inscription: Recto: upper left edge, graphite: “842-1”. Support (Gautier’s), Verso: upper centre edge, brown ink, Gautier’s hand, transcription of L.2978: “B; / fo. 7. No. 5.”; lower right, graphite, Witt's hand: “from Richardson + Houlditch’s Collns”; lower right, graphite: “Lanfranco”; lower left corner, graphite: “p/”; lower right corner, graphite, illegible as written over L.2228b: “/n/n [?]”.

Collector's mark: Recto: lower left corner, stamped in black: Thomas Hudson (L.2432). Support (Gautier’s), Verso: upper centre edge, written in brown ink: Salomon Gautier (L.2978); lower right corner, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).