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Head of a man, after Andrea del Sarto (recto)

Maker

Forgery in the manner of
(artist)
1796-1875

After
(artist)
1486-1530

Title

Date of Production

1834

Medium

black and white chalk (recto and verso) on blue wove paper (examined under microscope)

Dimensions

Width: 20.9 cm
Height: 31.2 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.2177

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

From 2023 display Art and Artifice: Fakes from the Collection:
Purportedly signed and dated “Roma 1834”, it has recently been confirmed that the handwriting on this drawing does not match Corot’s; moreover, the artist did not travel to Rome in 1834.

The drawing is instead one of over 2,400 works that were supposedly left in Corot’s studio after his death. The landlords, fearful of claims from his heirs, kept them secret for 50 years. This story was entirely fabricated, and it seems all the drawings are, in fact, forgeries made by one hand.

Notes

This work was likely copied after a drawing by Andrea del Sarto in the Louvre Museum, Paris (inv. 1685), which relates to the figure of Saint Matthew in Andrea del Sarto's 'Madonna of the Steps' painting, today in the Prado Museum, Madrid.

Provenance

Sotheby's (London), 3 June 1926, lot 132 (where it was alleged to come from the collection of the artist's nephew; however, it was in fact part of the 2,414 forgeries which were published in full in a 1929 catalogue by Victor Reinacker, a few having been brought to market in 1926, seemingly as a test); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (£3.5); Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Art and Artifice: Fakes from the Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 17/06/2023-08/10/2023

Literature

Reinaecker, V., The Paintings and Drawings of J.B.C. Corot in the Artist’s Own collection, London and New York 1929
no. 2361

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: lower centre, black chalk, false signature and date: "Corot / Roma / 1834 //".

Collector's mark: Verso: right lower edge, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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