Jonathan Richardson, the younger, London (1694-1771), L.2170 and L.2997; possibly his sale, Langford & Son (London), 5 February - 12 February 1772, either day 5, lot 11 or day 6, lot 44; E.A. Paterson (20th century), L.826a; Puttick & Simpson (London), 7 May 1936 [not evident in the catalogue so must have been part of a parcel or bundle in lots 120, 121 or 125]; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b; Witt Bequest 1952

Watermark: Watermark: none evident though difficult to see through mount.

Inscription: HONORI

Collector's mark: Mount (historic), Verso: upper centre, brown ink: Jonathan Richardson, the younger (L.2997).

Inscription: VIRTUTI / SACRVM //

Inscription: Polidoro

Inscription: Maturino.

Inscription: 6 / £44 //

Inscription: This Curious + Rare Drawing, for one sees few of this Master, + with all so capital, finely represents a fine moral Allegory of the Ancients. The Cos. M. Mar: / :cellas, in the War with Cimbers + Teutons, just as he was going to join the Battle, which was Likely to be Decisive, Vowd a Temple to Honour + Virtue, in case / these Deities would favour him with Victory; This was frequenty [sic] practis'd; They promis'd the gods something for Themselves, that is, they would give / Them a Temple or Hecatomb, or some such Little Portion of the Imense gains that were to accrue from their Success, + which was indeed their Own before, if they would be so good as to let them knock ten or twenty thousand of these fellows on the head, for the Advantage & glory of their Dear Country, that is, their / Own Avarice of Vanity. But when Marcellus came to Discharge his Vow, he found that the Priests had a scruple, to Dedicate One Single Temple to Two Deities, / because, as these Casuists objected, if It should be struck with Lightning, or any other Prodigy should happen to it, they would be at a Loss to know, which of / them they must apply to, for the Expiating it; so, it was determin'd, that there should be One to Each, but Joining together, & in such manner, that to En: / :ter into the Temple of Honour, it should be necessary to pass through that of Virtue. Sec Liv. XXVIII. 27. / Exornatum estumque Templum a Marcello nepote, Statuis + Inscriptione See Vitruv. Prof. L.VIII. / Divos, ipsumque In pradam partemque Jovem Virg. An. III,222. //

Collector's mark: collector's mark of Jonathan Richardson, the younger (L.2170)

Collector's mark: collector's mark of E.A. Paterson (L.826a)

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