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Woman walking, and other figures (recto)

Maker

(artist)
1817-1870

Title

Date of Production

1800 - 1899

Medium

black wash, white bodycolour, executed on the verso of a business card for the Compañía de Carbones Ingleses (an English coal merchant)

Dimensions

Height: 11.5 cm
Width: 7.3 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.3287

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

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Label Text

Clearly inspired by Goya, Lucas demonstrates in this miniature scene an astonishingly experimental technique: black ink rubbed and brushed onto the paper, leaving different textures and marks characteristic of the artist’s "manchas" (literally, “stains”). Rather than being clearly defined, the figures of a woman and perhaps two children emerge without contours out of the darkness of the sheet. The stark contrasts of light and dark evoke a sense of drama and danger.

Notes

This drawing attributed to Eugenio Lucas y Padilla (now known as Lucas Velázquez, the father of Eugenio Lucas Villamil, 1858-1915) was inspired by - rather than directly based on - a Goya drawing, also in Album C, no.13, depicting a ‘granny’ (?) walking uphill, hand in hand with two young children in a bare and possibly threatening landscape (Museo nacional del Prado https://www.museodelprado.es/coleccion/obra-de-arte/que-necedad-darles-destinos-en-la-niez/7d611ca9-cb92-4c6f-bdca-23e66554395a), see Gassier (1973, p. 241, C.13, P.G.163). Our thanks to Juliet Wilson-Bareau for this information.

Provenance

Nicholson; purchased from him by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), n.d.; Witt Bequest 1952

The seller's name was previously erroneously recorded as 'Nicholas', as Witt's index card indicates he bought it from 'Nich.', but Witt's own key to his index records that 'Nich.' refers to Nicholson. Nicholson's full name and affiliation are not yet known.

Exhibition History

The Spanish Line - From Ribera to Picasso, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 13/10/2011-15/01/2012

Eugenio Lucas' Imagery, National Art Museum of Catalunya, Barcelona, 03/11/2008-01/02/2009

Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May) ...More

A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956 ...Less

Literature

A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956
cat. no. 29

Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)
cat. no. 54

Eugenio Lucas' Imagery, National Art Museum of Catalunya, Barcelona, 2008-09
cat. no. 57 ...More

Véliz, Zahira, Spanish Drawings in the Courtauld Gallery: complete catalogue, London, 2011
no. 104
ill. on p. 283 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: none.

Inscription: Verso: printed in black ink: "Compañia de Carbones Ingleses / Oficina Central / Bola-3-pral / Deposito en el estacion del Ferro-Farril del Norte, en Monteleon / Calle de Daoiz y Velarde y Calle de ______ no. __________ / Newcastle, Cardiff Coke ingles Coke del Gas / Hulla granada. Hulla menuda. / Para todos los usos de la industria fabril y para el consumo econo - / mico de cocinas, chimeneas, estufas, caloriferos Vc. Vc. / Im. Desengaño 14”.

Collector's mark: none.

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.

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