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Susanna and the Elders

Maker

After
(artist)
1618-1680

Title

Date of Production

(after) 1650

Medium

black chalk on brown-prepared laid paper

Dimensions

Height: 19.6 cm
Width: 26.5 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.4184

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, which depicts the Old Testament story of the virtuous Susanna refusing the advances of two lecherous old men, appears to be a copy after a painting by Lely (Tate). Although the drawing diverges from the painting in certain details of Susanna’s face and the awkward position of the hand of one of the elders, the copyist has otherwise faithfully followed the composition. Lely established one of the first artists’ academies in England, and this copy was likely made by a student.

Provenance

Robert Udney (1725-1802); Charles Fairfax Murray, London (1849-1919) [not evident in the catalogue of his estate sale at Christie's, 30 January 1920, though not all drawings were listed in detail]; Victor Koch, Hampstead (1867-1959); his sale, Sotheby's (London), 29 June 1949, lot 86; purchased there by Colnaghi (London) on behalf of Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (verso, lower left); Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Special Display - Peter Lely - The Draughtsman and his Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 24/09/2012-13/01/2013

Tudor and Stuart Drawings, York City Art Gallery, 1951

Literature

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 32

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: Recto, centre: crowned shield surmounted by a fleur-de-lis, a single diagonal band across the shield, above letters "BB" (matches Heawood 137 - Schieland 1631 - though mark in the sheet is larger and chain lines closer together).

Inscription: Recto: lower right, brown ink: "A 2 [?]". Verso: lower left, graphite: "13"; lower centre, graphite, erased: "G. Virtue H[rest illegible]".

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

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