From 2023 display Art and Artifice: Fakes from the Collection:
For over three centuries, this was believed to be a drawing by the famed Baroque Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. In 1985, a conservator removed a backing sheet to reveal the name of Italian artist Girolamo Muziano (1532–1592), which led experts to suggest that Rubens had only retouched an original drawing by Muziano with extensive additions of red wash and white opaque watercolour. However, recent technical examination, found that the paper was most likely produced in the Netherlands between 1650 and 1700, indicating that Muziano cannot be the author of this drawing, and casting doubts on Rubens as the retoucher.

The initials stamped on the lower centre edge belong to the Flemish artist and collector Prosper Henry Lankrink (1628–1692). Recent research revealed that he collected drawings and had them deliberately reworked in the style of Rubens so that he could fraudulently sell them as authentic works by that artist, as was likely the case with this sheet.

Prosper Henry Lankrink, London (1628-1692), L.2090; a French collection after 1772 (attested to by inscription and watermark on former backing sheet); Johannes Goldsche, Berlin (1881-1953), by 1932; by descent to his wife, Wanda Goldsche, Berlin; purchased from her by Count Antoine Seilern, London (1901-1978), August 1953 (DM 6000); Princes Gate Bequest 1978

Art and Artifice: Fakes from the Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 17/06/2023-08/10/2023

Drawings Gallery Display - Drawing Together, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/09/2017-02/01/2018

New York, 1990 ...More

The Courtauld Gallery and Thomas, Ben. Drawing Together (London: Courtauld Gallery, 2017-2018)
p. 21
ill. on p. 22

Wood, Jeremy, Rubens: copies and adaptations from Renaissance and later artists. Italian artists. III Artists working in central Italy and France (CRLB), London 2011
I, no. 224
II, fig. 173
proposes tentative attribution to Daniel van den Dyck, retouched by someone in the style of Rubens; in file

Rubens - Paintings, Drawings and Prints in the Princes Gate Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1988-1989
cat. no. 24
and pp. 19, 21-22 under no. 25, 27 under no. 30
ill. on p. 21
as Muziano reworked by Rubens, dated c. 1600-08; in file ...More

Watermark: centre: coat-of-arms on a shield with a crown (No remark in Peter Bower's 2017 report, but Wood 2011 says it is unlike those found on Italian mid-16th century drawings, but is common on Netherlandish drawings of mid- to late-seventeenth century). Backing sheet (removed, in portfolio from P&D), Recto: right centre, circle containing cross above, arrows atop a ball pointing upwards below, and letters “IHS” in centre. Secondary backing sheet (removed, in portfolio from P&D), Verso, left centre: “MOYEN / J?MALMENAIDE / [illegible] 1772”.

Inscription: Verso (backing sheet): upper centre edge, brown ink: "27."; upper left, brown ink, first letter underlined: "A:AL:"; upper centre, red chalk: "2-10-0"; centre, brown ink: "Girolamo Mutiano-"; lower left corner, light brown ink number written above darker brown ink letters partially hidden by handling edges: "3. / LF". Former inner backing sheet (removed in 1985, now in portfolio in P&D), Recto: upper right, brown ink, offset: “A AL”; centre, brown ink, offset: “Girolamo Mutiano"; centre, red crayon: “2-10-0”. Inner backing sheet, Verso: right edge, brown ink: “que Le cadre soit de lagrandeur du dessains”. Former outer backing sheet (removed in 1985, now in portfolio from P&D), Verso: centre, brown ink: “PPRubbens”.

Label: Attached to backing sheet (removed, in portfolio from P&D), Verso: upper centre, printed in black ink with no. added in pen and black ink: “RUBENS / Tentoonstelling / Kunsthandel / J. GOUDSTIKKER N.V. / Amsterdam / 5 Aug. t/m 1 Oct. 1933 / No. 72”.

Collector's mark: Recto: lower centre edge, stamped in black ink: Prosper Henry Lankrink (L.2090).