An emaciated mule stands harnessed and ready for work. This drawing, amongst others by Roelandt Savery, is inscribed ‘naer het leven’ or ‘after the life’ (lower right), and is accompanied by material and colour notations in Roelandt’s hand. Though greatly indebted to Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s models and technique, Roelandt developed his repertory of life studies by recording everyday encounters in the markets of Prague. Many of these studies he later used in his paintings.

Lionel Lucas, London (1822-1862); by descent to his nephew, Claude Lucas; his sale, Christie's (London), 9 December 1949, lot 64 (as Pieter Bruegel the Elder); Thomas Agnew & Sons (London); purchased there by Colnaghi (London) on behalf of Count Antoine Seilern, London (1901-1978), 11 August 1955 (£1,510); Princes Gate Bequest 1978

Drawings Gallery Display - Bruegel / Not Bruegel, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 16/01/2016-17/04/2016

The Princes Gate Collection - Drawings (Selection B), The Courtauld Gallery, London, 29/01/1982-25/07/1982

The Princes Gate Collection - Drawings (Selection B), The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1982
cat. no. 156

Spicer-Durham, Joaneath, The drawings of Roelandt Savery, PhD thesis, Yale University 1979
no. C 129 F 128 on p. 547

Stechow, Wolfgang, Pieter Bruegel The Elder, London 1990 (concise edition of 1970 publication)
p. 35
fig. 39 on p. 44 (recto) ...More

Watermark: Watermark: Recto, lower left corner: part of an eagle's wing and talons (Peter Bower had no further information on this mark, but the paper is the same as PG.319. See also Spicer in 'Master Drawings', vol. VIII, no. 1, 1970, pp. 7-9 for similar eagle watermarks on Savery drawings from the 'naer het leven' group).

Inscription: All in brown ink, colour notes in artist’s hand: Recto: upper left: “brun pert” [brown horse]; below that: “brun lÿste ler tow” [brown bridle leather ropes]; upper centre: “het fulsel wol linen” [the filling wool linen]; lower right: “near het leuen” [from the life]. All (but one) in brown ink, colour notes in artist’s hand: Verso: upper right: “Swartte mus” [black hat]; below that: “gel bent” [yellow fur]; below that: “witte omslach” [white collar]; right centre: “Swartte bruinockker / rock” [black brown ochre garment]; lower left, black chalk: “wit” [white]; lower right: “vil witte vorschut” [felt white apron]; below that: “licht bruinockkere broeck” [light brown ochre trousers]; lower right edge: “near het leuen” [from the life].

Collector's mark: Repeated at lower right corner on both recto and verso, stamped in black: Lionel Lucas (L.1733a).