Four studies of heads of young men
Maker
(artist)
1616-1668
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1557-1602
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1560-1609
1616-1668
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1557-1602
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1560-1609
Title
Four studies of heads of young men
Date of Production
1600 - 1699
Medium
pen and brown ink on laid paper, laid down on a blue paper support
Dimensions
Height: 21.9 cm
Width: 15.6 cm
Width: 15.6 cm
Accession Number
D.1952.RW.3184
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
This drawing demonstrates Castillo’s skill with his preferred medium, pen and ink. Symmetrically arranged in two rows, the heads leave space for the artist’s monogram at centre. The sheet may have served as a model for studio assistants, a bravura demonstration of the artist’s draughtsmanship, or a design for a pattern book. The bold graphic line suggests the influence of prints.
Provenance
probably acquired by Frank Hall Standish (1799-1840) in Seville, early 1630s; probably bequeathed by him to Louis Philippe, King of France (1773-1850); possibly purchased at his estate sale, Defer and Potier (Paris), 6 December 1852 by Sir William Stirling Maxwell (1818-1878); George Guy, Earl of Warwick (1818-1893); Mr. Alexander (?); purchased from him by Colnaghi (London), 13 November 1942; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b, 27 November 1942 (£12, as by Annibale Carracci); Witt Bequest 1952
Exhibition History
The Spanish Line - From Ribera to Picasso, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 13/10/2011-15/01/2012
Antonio de Castillo (1618-1668), Fundacion Marcelino Botin, Santander, Spain, 30/04/2008-15/06/2008
The golden age of Spanish art: from El Greco to Murillo and Valdes Leal: paintings and drawings from British Collections, Nottingham University Art Gallery, 11/02/1980-29/03/1980 ...More
Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)
A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956 ...Less
Antonio de Castillo (1618-1668), Fundacion Marcelino Botin, Santander, Spain, 30/04/2008-15/06/2008
The golden age of Spanish art: from El Greco to Murillo and Valdes Leal: paintings and drawings from British Collections, Nottingham University Art Gallery, 11/02/1980-29/03/1980 ...More
Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)
A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956 ...Less
Literature
Catalogue des tableaux, dessins, et gravures de la collection Standish, légués au Roi par M. F. H. Standish., Paris 1842
no. 361
A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956
cat. no. 6
Muller, Priscilla, The drawings of Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra. PhD Thesis, New York University., Ann Arbor, Michigan 1963
pp. 135, 138 no. 143
fig. 98 ...More
Valverde Madrid, J., 'Los dibujos de Antonio del Castillo' in 'Goya', 1967
p. 23
Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)
cat. no. 19
The golden age of Spanish art: from El Greco to Murillo and Valdes Leal: paintings and drawings from British Collections, Nottingham University Art Gallery, 1980
cat. no. 49
Nancarrow, Mindy and Benito Navarrete Prieto, Antonio del Castillo, Madrid 2004
p. 70
fig. 75
Dibujos Españoles en la Hispanic Society of America del Siglo de Oro a Goya, Prado, Madrid, 2006, 2006
p. 158 under no. 40
fig. 56 on p. 156
Navarrete Prieto, Benito and Fuensanta Torre de la Garcia, Antonio del Castillo, 1616-1668. Dibujos. Catálogo razonado, Santander 2008
p. 492, no. 141
Véliz, Zahira, Spanish Drawings in the Courtauld Gallery: complete catalogue, London, 2011
no. 52
ill. on p. 173 ...Less
no. 361
A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956
cat. no. 6
Muller, Priscilla, The drawings of Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra. PhD Thesis, New York University., Ann Arbor, Michigan 1963
pp. 135, 138 no. 143
fig. 98 ...More
Valverde Madrid, J., 'Los dibujos de Antonio del Castillo' in 'Goya', 1967
p. 23
Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)
cat. no. 19
The golden age of Spanish art: from El Greco to Murillo and Valdes Leal: paintings and drawings from British Collections, Nottingham University Art Gallery, 1980
cat. no. 49
Nancarrow, Mindy and Benito Navarrete Prieto, Antonio del Castillo, Madrid 2004
p. 70
fig. 75
Dibujos Españoles en la Hispanic Society of America del Siglo de Oro a Goya, Prado, Madrid, 2006, 2006
p. 158 under no. 40
fig. 56 on p. 156
Navarrete Prieto, Benito and Fuensanta Torre de la Garcia, Antonio del Castillo, 1616-1668. Dibujos. Catálogo razonado, Santander 2008
p. 492, no. 141
Véliz, Zahira, Spanish Drawings in the Courtauld Gallery: complete catalogue, London, 2011
no. 52
ill. on p. 173 ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: Recto, left centre edge, only visible in raking light, fragment: two adjacent circles (of Heawood type 249-321 - Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English papers from mid-17th to mid-18th centuries).
Collector's mark: Support (historic), Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
Inscription: Recto: centre, brown ink, signed with the artist’s initials: “A.C.”. Verso (hidden under support, visible via transmitted light): lower centre, brown ink: “8 […]”.
Collector's mark: Support (historic), Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
Inscription: Recto: centre, brown ink, signed with the artist’s initials: “A.C.”. Verso (hidden under support, visible via transmitted light): lower centre, brown ink: “8 […]”.
Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.uk. Find out more about using and licensing our images.
____________________________