Johnson Manuscript page - text beginning 'vela subtilia veneri' with sketch of a man's head (recto)
Johnson Manuscript page - continuation of text from recto (verso)

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Title

Johnson Manuscript page - text beginning 'vela subtilia veneri' with sketch of a man's head (recto)
Johnson Manuscript page - continuation of text from recto (verso)

Date of Production

(mid 18th century) 1725 - 1775

Medium

black chalk, pen and brown ink (recto), pen and brown ink (verso) on laid paper

Dimensions

Height: 21.2 cm
Width: 16.4 cm

Object Number

MS.1978.PG.1.93 (fol. 89)

Mode of Acquisition

Count Antoine Seilern, bequest, 1978

Credit

Courtauld Gallery, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: upper right corner, brown ink: “221.a.“; whole page, brown ink: “vela subtilia veneri […]“ [text not fully transcribed]. Verso: written twice at upper left and right corners but partially hidden in binding, brown ink: “220.b.“; upper half of page, brown ink: “ad vestiendas opte feminas videntur [...]“ [not fully transcribed].

Provenance

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

Exhibition History

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

Literature

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

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