The vision of an Ancient Philosopher (?Empedocles)
Drawing
1613 (hand drawn)
1613 (hand drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Vision of an ancient philosopher (?Empedocles); He sits, nearly naked, on a large stone, contemplating the burning bush and has a pair of spectacles in his right hand, a second pair lie on a book at his feet; Pen and bistre, on paper; Signed De Gheyn and dated 1613.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The vision of an Ancient Philosopher (?Empedocles) (published title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and brown ink; framing line in brown ink. |
| Brief description | Drawing,Vision of an Ancient Philosopher (?Empedocles); Jacques de Gheyn II; Pen and bistre, on paper; Signed and dated; Dutch School; 1613 |
| Physical description | Vision of an ancient philosopher (?Empedocles); He sits, nearly naked, on a large stone, contemplating the burning bush and has a pair of spectacles in his right hand, a second pair lie on a book at his feet; Pen and bistre, on paper; Signed De Gheyn and dated 1613. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | The drawing belongs to a group of fantastical allegorical scenes of sorcery and witchcraft. Jacob de Gheyn was famous for these scenes. The style of his drawing imitates engraving with its use of complex hatching and cross hatching. De Gheyn’s master, Hendrick Goltzius, developed this drawing technique. |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce |
| Object history | Provenance: Gabriel Huquier the elder (1695–1772), Paris, his sale, Amsterdam, IJver, 14ff. September 1761, Album Z, lot 3218 (to van der Marck for 4.15 fl.); Johan van der Marck Ægzn (1707–72), Leiden, his sale, Amsterdam, de Winter & IJver, 29ff. November 1773, Album A, lot 67: ‘Jaques de Gyn. Een zittende Man by een brandende Berg, met de Pen geärseerd, h. 6½ b. 9½ duim.’ (with lots 66 and 68 to ‘Grebe’ for 44 fl.); Pieter Oets (1720 or before–1780), Amsterdam, his sale, Amsterdam, de Winter, 11 March 1776, Album D, lot 378: ‘Een naakte Man, zittende by een brandende Berg, fraay met de Pen gearseerd, door denzelven [J. de Gyn]’ (with lots 376–7 to ‘Busserus’ for 0.6 fl.); possibly Hendrik Busserus (1701–81), Amsterdam, possibly his sale, Amsterdam, van der Schley … Maarszen, 21ff. October 1782, possibly one of fourteen drawings in seven pairs in Album 7, lots 443–9 (all to ‘Nijman’ for 3 fl.); possibly Theodorus van Duijsel (d. 1784 or before), The Hague, his sale, Amsterdam, van der Schley … IJver, 11 October 1784, Album O, lot 992: ‘Een Oudvader by een brandende Poel, fiks met de pen, door J. de Gheyn’ (to ‘Wubbels’ for 10 fl.); Jonkheer Johann Goll van Franckenstein the elder (1722–85), Velzen (his number 2193 in brown ink on the verso; L. 2987); his son, Jonkheer Johan Goll van Franckenstein the younger (1756–1821), Velzen and Amsterdam; Jacob Helmolt (1747–1808), Haarlem (his No- 50 in brown ink on verso; L. Suppl. 2986b), possibly his sale, Amsterdam, van der Schley ... de Vries, 11–14 April 1810, Album B, lot 57: ‘Een zittend Beeld. Met de pen, door J. de Ghijn’ (with lot 56 to ‘Hendriks’ for 3 fl.); Foster;1 Rev. Alexander Dyce (1798–1869), London, by whom bequeathed to the museum (L. Suppl. 153b), 1869. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Jane Shoaf Turner and Christopher White, Catalogue of Dutch and Flemish Drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, 2014), vol. I, cat.64, pp.109-11 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | DYCE.503 |
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| Record created | June 8, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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