possibly Albert Rubens (1614-1657); bought by Captain Maurice Johnson, 1742/44 for his father, Maurice Johnson Sr., Spalding (1688-1755); by descent in Johnson and Marsden families; W.A. Marsden (book-plate, 1897); Christopher Marsden (bookplate, 1930); his sale, Sotheby's (London), 23-24 March, 1970, lot 179; purchased there via Maggs Bros. (London) by Count Antoine Seilern, London (1901-1978) (£2,600); Princes Gate Bequest 1978

Rubens. The Power of Transformation, Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna, 17/10/2017-21/01/2018; Stadel Museum, Frankfurt, 08/02/2018-03/06/2018

Rubens. The Power of Transformation, Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna, 2017-18
cat. no. 28

Sotheby's, London, Catalogue of valuable printed books autograph letters and historical documents, 23-24 March 1970
Fig. p. verso repr.

Jaffé, Michael, Van Dyck's Antwerp Sketchbook, London 1966
vol. I, pp. 22-23, 83-84n22
transcribed

Watermark: Watermark: Recto, left centre edge, fragment: lower half of a Pro Patria.

Inscription: Recto: whole page, brown and red ink, hand of Maurice Johnson Senior, according to Jaffé 1966 begun in 1744 and expanded and continued overleaf in 1751: “MSS Lectures of the greatest Masters / OF Statuary & Painting - / In Instructions given to their Disciples, by / Michael Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, / Albert Durer, Daniel da Voltarra, / & other eminent Masters. / with several Sketches by them and other eminent / Masters of the Arts of Designeing , / By Them, or after them, but chiefly / by Henry Goltzius. Pictr / of Mulbrec in Flanders, a Rel. & Disciple of that Eminent Cognizeur - / old Hubert Goltzius, Cives Romanus, & Antiquarius Antw. / MSS. MJohnson Ic. Et Socc. / (Sc.) Soc. Gen. Spald.g Institut Secr. & Pra.ses. 17478 / & Antiquariorum Britann: No. CLXXIX. Londini, ex paucis / Restitutoribus, Socius / These valuable papers were bought me from Brußells & Antwerp [the former two words added in graphite] / by my Son Capt:n M. Johnson: & by me shewn to / dr Pocock, & other Members at the Antiquarian Soc. / at the Mitre Tavern, Lond.n & by their recom. To Mr Giles / Hussey, & Mr GVertue, w[h]o aßurd me of their Excellent worth / with” [continued on the verso]. Verso: continuation of text from recto, only in brown ink: “with which good Judges of these matters I became many Years / before Acquainted, & to bring them So, carryd my friend Mr / Virtue with me to Mr Husseys apartments to wait on him; / whom when a Disciple & Attending his first Mr Seignr / Demeni a Venetian, I had at Lincoln, [where he was Employd / by Lady Thorold’s Bounty to repaint the Ritrattos of four of our / first Bishops, almost lost by Injuries of Weather & time / in the Upper N Transept of that Sumptuous Cathedral, / which he well performd: And by the City to adorn their / Newbuilt St. Peter’s Church, for the May[o]r & Aldermen / we our Blessed Lord & Saviours Ascension into heaven] / the pleasure of being known to him, & at Capt Pownals there, / more particularly: who was an Admirer of Arts and an / Encourager of Artists. Mr Hussey afterwards Studied at / Bologna, & Rome, & there Obteind the Prize, & was / (when I shewd him these sheets, esteemde by our most know.g / Cognizeurs) the best Draughtsman in Europe, and Mr / V the best engraver of a portrait Wee have, therefore / their approbation, & Admiration, induc’d me to Set so / high a value on & to adorn thesee [sic] sheets as here ye See, by ye] / hands of Ch:r Norris / of St Pauls Chapterhouse Ally / my Bookbinder M Johnson Spalding / 1751.”