Lot 157: PIERRE BRÉBIETTE MANTES-LA-JOLIE 1598 - 1650 PARIS THE NATIVITY WITH PUTTI ADORING THE CHRIST

PIERRE BRÉBIETTE MANTES-LA-JOLIE 1598 - 1650 PARIS THE NATIVITY WITH PUTTI ADORING THE CHRIST CHILD

bears attribution in pen and brown ink: Brebiette
pen and brown ink and grey wash, with slight touches of white heightening, over traces of red chalk, the corners cut

PROVENANCE

Philipes Sale, June 1801, lot 59 (according to note on back of mount)
CATALOGUE NOTE

Brébiette is primarily known as a printmaker and draughtsman. He was born outside Paris, but was in Italy from 1616 to 1625, working in Rome but with visits to Venice. He returned to France where he became part of the circle of artists and writers around Gaston d'Orléans, the rebellious brother of Louis XIII. At least three hundred prints by him are known but many fewer drawings. A group which belonged to the furniture maker Charles-André Boule was destroyed in a fire in 1730. For further information, see Jacques Thuillier, 'Pierre Brébiette Dessinateur', Hommage au Dessin, Mélanges offerts a Roseline Bacou, Rimini 1996, pp. 275-324.

Although many of Brébiette's drawings are in red chalk, this is similar in style and technique to The Rape of the Tanagran Women, sold London, Christie's, 10 July 2001, lot 93. Thuillier discusses several drawings in this medium which he dates around 1626-30 (Thuillier, op.cit., p. 285; pp. 314-15, figs. 31 and 32).

208 by 146mm