Lot 162: The Baptism of the Eunuch

Attributed to François Venant (Middelburg circa 1591-1636 Amsterdam) The Baptism of the Eunuch black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash, watermark eagle 8½ x 11 in. (20.5 x 27.8 cm.)

20.5 x 27.8 cm.

circa 1591

J.G. van Gelder, 'François Venant: teekenaar', Oud Holland, LV, 1938, pp. 35-37, fig. 1 (as in a similar style to the Leipzig drawing). J. Bruyn, 'François Venant: Enige aanvullingen', Oud Holland, CXI, 1997, pp.163-176, note 6 (he notes that he finds the attribution less convincing).

Another preparatory drawing for the same composition, omitting the river god at lower left and introducing more figures into the entourage, is in the Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig (J. Bruyn, 'François Venant: Enige annvullingen', Oud Holland, CXI, 1997, fig. 5). That drawing, which is more highly finished, is signed with initials and dated, but the final two digits of the date have unfortunately been lost.