FLORENCE, 17TH CENTURY Study of the head of Medusa, probably for Perseus with the head of Medusa.

FLORENCE, 17TH CENTURY

Study of the head of Medusa, probably for Perseus with the head of Medusa.
Red chalk, heightened with white, on formerly blue paper.
Watermark: see Heawood, no. 5, Rome, probably 17th century (anchor in a circle with initials LM, star above).
11 × 13.5 cm.

Provenance:
- Nathaniel Hone collection (1718–1784), London (L. 2793).
- William Bates collection (1824–1884), Birmingham (L. 2604).
- Auction Sotheby's, London, 19 January 1887.
- Japanese private collection.

Exhibited:
Kitakyushu 1981, Old master drawings from private collections in Japan, Kitakyushu Museum of Art, 6 June–5 July 1981, no. 54, as Florentine School, 17th century.

Literature:
Exh. cat. Old master drawings from private collections in Japan, Kitakyushu 1981, p. 68, no. 54 (with ill.), as Florentine School, 17th century.