Antique drawing Scholar in his studio I Cabinet Poullain

After Arnold Houbraken (1660-1719)

Antique drawing, pencil; antique print, etching | Scholar in his studio / Schrijvende man bij een raam [37: Cabinet Poullain], published 1781, 2 pp.

Name: Antique drawing, pencil; antique print, etching | Scholar in his studio / Schrijvende man bij een raam [37: Cabinet Poullain], published 1781, 2 pp.
SKU: PR121128
Availability: InStock

A drawing copied after an impression of a composition by Arnold Houbraken, formerly in the collection of Monsieur Antoine Poullain.

A bearded man in a studio, sitting beside a window, writing on a book. Within niece. Inscribed at bottom left: ‘Houbraken del.’

First state of plate 37 in Collection de cent-vingt estampes gravées d’après les tableaux & dessins qui composoient le Cabinet de M. Poullain, published in 1781, one year after the passing of the collector. It is a series of 120 plates reproducing Poullain’s collection of drawings & paintings, executed under the direction of Basan by various artists and published in association with Poignant in 1781; none of the artists’ names are recorded in the text accompanying the plates.

According to the catalogue notes, the etching was copied after a bistre drawing: “Un Philosophe dans son Cabinet, affis devant une table & écrivant; il est entouré d’un globe & de têtes antiques. Il été gravé d’après un Dessin de même grandeur, fait au bistre.” [p. 7]

The etching is an early state as the cross hatchings visible in other impressions are not present (i.e. London, British Museum, inv. nr. 1853,1008.362). The pencil drawing is a copy after the print. The life dates inscribed on the mat in pen: ‘HOUBRAKEN 1698-1780’ refer to another Houbraken, Jacob a son of Arnold.

Baron Dominique Vivant Denon (1747-1825) copied the composition with some modifications: jars replace the globe in the left foreground and the books on the shelves on the right, and the scholar is much younger (see New York, MET museum, inv. nr. 17.3.1526).

SKU: PR121128

Drawing in pencil on paper, and etching on paper, mounted on cardboard mat with inscription; total: 179 x 227 mm; some damages and yellowing on the paper of the drawing, some rubbing on the print, otherwise in very good condition.

€ 181,50 (€ 150,00 ex. btw)

In stock