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Gideon putting the Midianites into confusion

Maker

Attributed to
Heinrich Vogtherr, the elder (artist)
1490-1556

Formerly attributed to
Monogrammist C.Z. (artist)
1516-1521

Title

Date of Production

(circa) 1550

Medium

pen and blue ink, blue wash, white bodycolour, gold paint, on blue-prepared parchment, with gold paint framing lines

Dimensions

Height: 17.1 cm
Width: 27.9 cm

Accession Number

D.1960.WF.4701

Mode of Acquisition

Witt Fund, purchase, 1960

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

Inspired by a story from the Old Testament, this miniature-like work depicts Gideon and his 300 men freeing the Israelites from the Midianites, and thus returning them to God’s rule. Exquisitely painted on vellum in blue tones with gold and white highlights, the grisaille effect recalls book illuminations. Classically inspired costumes and the range of emotions depicted reveal this artist’s clear attempt at reviving antiquity.

Provenance

Ernst Jürgen Otto (L.873b); purchased from him by Colnaghi (London), 5 March 1960; purchased there by The Courtauld via the Witt Fund, 20 May 1960 (£160)

Exhibition History

German Old Masters, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1969-70 (Dec.-Mar.)

Special Display - German drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 21/06/2007-23/09/2007

Newly Acquired Drawings for the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1965-1966

Literature

Newly Acquired Drawings for the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1965-1966
cat. no. 25

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: n/a.

Collector's mark: Verso: lower right, stamped in brown ink: Ernst Jürgen Otto (L.873b).

Inscription: Recto: within the drawing, right upper edge above escutcheon, gold paint, purported artist’s initials: “GZ”. Verso: upper left corner, graphite: “AN 2792 b”; upper left, graphite, circled: “2”; lower right edge, graphite, faded: “9273125”.

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