Anon. Old Master Drawing, Chronos with Mother & Child

An original 17th-century pen & ink drawing Old Master Drawing, Chronos with Mother & Child.

An intriguing Old Master Drawing from the collection of renowned British drawings and watercolours dealer William Drummond (Covent Garden Gallery, London). The drawing is Italian in style, depicting possibly the Greek winged figure of Chronos, personification of time. The elongated limbs and slightly unnatural poses suggest the influence of Mannerism. At the upper right a draped curtain shows a concern for sophisticated pictorial composition. Likewise, on the verso of the drawing, a couple of further brief ink sketches show scenes with draped corner curtains, one with a small cupid firing his arrow, the other a jostle of fingers, including a nude female who appears to be playing a flute. These are quick, freely executed sketches of ideas for more finished works, providing a fascinating insight into the artist's preliminary workings.

In brown ink on laid paper. Please note the small size of this drawing (14 x 9.3cm).

The drawing is accompanied by (but detached from) an early wove backing paper, which bears Drummond's historic stock number and annotation 'OMD' (Old Master Drawing).