Lot 176: Jacob Adriaensz. Backer (Harlingen 1608-1651 Amsterdam)

Jacob Adriaensz. Backer (Harlingen 1608-1651 Amsterdam) Jupiter appearing to Callisto in the guise of Diana with inscription 'Jacob Adriaensz Backer' (verso) black chalk, fragmentary armorial watermark 5 7/8 x 8¼ in. (14.9 x 21 cm.)

14.9 x 21 cm.

K. Bauch, Jakob Adriaensz. Backer: ein Rembrandtschüler aus Friesland, Berlin 1926, no. Z 9 (as Backer, 'Diana and Endymion'). W. Sumowski, Drawings of the Rembrandt School, New York, 1979, I, no. 72x (as Backer).

Freiherr von Elking; J.M. Heberle, Cologne, 3 June 1902, lot number presently untraced.

According to Sumowski (op. cit.), this is a late work dating from around 1650, probaby executed as a preparatory study for a painting, although no related picture is known. He compared it stylistically to two portrait studies by Backer from the same period: The Regents of the Nieuwezijds-Huiszittenhuis in Amsterdam and Sketch for a group portrait (Sumowski, op. cit., respectively nos. 8 and 71x). We are grateful to Peter van den Brink, who has confirmed the attribution to Backer.