ATTRIBUTED TO STEFANO DELLA BELLA (ITALIAN 1610-1664)

ATTRIBUTED TO STEFANO DELLA BELLA (ITALIAN 1610-1664)

SAINT GEORGE ON HORSEBACK, AFTER DURER
inscribed indistinctly in Italian upper centre
pen and brown ink on paper
17.5 x 14cm (31 x 25cm framed)

Property from the Collection of Jeremy Mason, formerly of Hoyles House, Wandsworth

Provenance
The Rt. Hon. Earl of Gainsborough
Sale, Christie's London, Exton Park, Rutland, 23rd November 1971, lot 122
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

The present work derives from Albrecht Dürer's engraving of Saint George and the Dragon, 1508 (Bartsch no. 54). But in the place of the dragon, a dog stands alert beside his master's horse and the cross of St George showing in the folds of the standard in Durer's version is now a coat of arms, possibly a double-headed eagle, a powerful heraldic mark referring back to the Holy Roman Empire and its aristocratic families.

Condition Report:

Under close inspection, the paper appears not to be laid down (the paper slightly buckles); the sheet may have been folded at some point as there are creases visible on the left hand side going vertically and horizontally; the illegible inscription at the top edge appears to be rubbed off in parts, but under ultraviolet light, further inscriptions appear to be on the other side of the sheet; some minor creases lower left corner, some minor buckling and foxing throughout. Overall good condition.