Lot 71: Nicolas Lagneau , active circa 1590 - 1630 head of an old woman in a turban Red and black chalk

Red and black chalk

measurements note 240 by 182 mm

Bears dry stamp, lower right

This is a typical portrait or character study by Lagneau, executed in his characteristic combination of red and black chalks. In addition to individual drawings, a number of albums of portrait drawings of this type by the artist remain intact, most notably one in Paris which once belonged to the celebrated French scholar, Abbé Michel de Marolles, whose collection forms the core of the Bibliothèque National. It was Marolles who identified the author of the album as 'Lagneau' in his inventory.