by-nc

Landscape with a milkmaid and goats

Maker

(artist)
1591-1621

Title

Landscape with a milkmaid and goats

Date of Production

1617

Medium

black chalk and graphite on laid paper, with brown wash framing lines, the verso prepared with black chalk only in the lower area containing the figure and goats (which are incised on the recto), now obscured by Japanese tissue

Dimensions

Height: 28.2 cm
Width: 36.4 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.4007

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

The screen of trees that dominates this landscape seems to be inspired by an engraving after Adam Elsheimer’s painting Tobias and the Angel (1608). However, rather than form a decorative backdrop for dramatic action, the trees emerge as the focal point of the composition, their sinuous branches entwining in a way that suggests movement. The uniform clarity of handling suggests that this drawing may itself have been a design for an etching; however, no such print is known.

Notes

Probably conceived as a pendant to a sheet in Cambridge, and its relation in scale and composition to drawings in Washington, as well as the verso preparation, suggest it was a design for an engraving, though none is known.

Provenance

possibly Joris Hofnaegel (1542-1601); part of an album compiled in England, around 1800 (with D.1978.PG.8 and PG.9); W. Thompson; purchased from him by Colnaghi (London), 3 November 1948; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b, 17 November 1948 (£15); Witt Bequest 1952 see Northern Landscape catalogue for explanation of early provenance

Exhibition History

Drawings Gallery Display - Regarding Trees, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2016-25/09/2016

Special Display - Drawing Peasants, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/09/2010-10/02/2011

The Witt Collection - Four centuries of drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/04/2004-20/06/2004 ...More

Landscapes in the Making: Dutch & Flemish 16-17th Century Drawings from the Courtauld Gallery, Tobu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, 03/11/2000-24/12/2000; Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka, 02/02/2001-11/03/2001; Koriyama City Museum of Art, Koriyama, 17/03/2001-15/04/2001

Material Evidence, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/10/1998-24/01/1999

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992

The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/09/1986-30/11/1986; The Drawing Center, New York, 08/04/1986-26/07/1986

Willem Buytewech, Rotterdam and Paris, 1974-1975

Old Master Drawings from the Witt Collection, Auckland City Art Gallery, 01/09/1960-01/10/1960

Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London; York City Art Gallery; Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953 ...Less

Literature

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1991
cat. no. 16
pp. 40, 174-75
ill. on p. 41

The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1986
cat. no. 34
ill. on p. 93

Willem Buytewech, Rotterdam, November 1974 - January 1975; Paris, January - March 1975, 1974-1975
cat. no. 98
pl. 124 ...More

Old Master Drawings from the Witt Collection, Auckland City Art Gallery, 1960
cat. no. 56

Haverkamp Begemann, E., William Buytewech, Amsterdam 1959
no. 106 and pp. 36, 37, 41 and under nos. 41, 104, 108 and CP 22
afb. 77
in file for PG.9

Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London, York City Art Gallery and Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
cat. no. 89 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: Recto, left centre: shaft? Countermark: Recto, right centre: geometric shapes (see tracings in file).

Inscription: Recto: lower right, black chalk, signed and dated by the artist: "W 1617". Verso (obscured by Japanese tissue so hard to read): upper left corner, graphite?: "[...] SN [?]"; lower left, graphite?: "66W"; lower right corner, graphite, Colnaghi number: "A15919".

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

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.ukFind out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection