B-09

Type:

Bach Painting

Title:

Silverpoint drawing

Description:

This artistically important, intimate, charming drawing was first published by Besseler (V) in 1958 and established - on grounds of personal characteristics, especially blepharochalasis, and of an expert estimate that it was “absolutely authentic” - as an ad-visum portrait of 1730 to 1740, closely related to the Meiningen pastel. This theory is subscribed to by some art historians but questioned by other experts.

Measures:

On parchment
9.4 x 7.2 cm
With no artist’s signature.
Later pencil inscription on the reverse: “Job. Seb. Bach” ostensibly a transcription of the name as it appeared on the original 18^th-century passepartout which was badly damaged.

Creator:

?

History:

Acquired by Erich Fiala of Vienna in 1937 from a Paris antiquarian. Offered for sale in the catalogue of the autumn auction of October 17&18, 1973 of the Buch- und Kunstantiquariat Wolfgang Brandes, Brunswick, but still in the collection of Dr. Erich Fiala, Vienna.

Current Location:

The collection of Dr. Erich Fiala, Vienna.

Photography by:

Comments:

Buy item at:

N/A

Source/Links: Bach-Dokumente IV (1979)
Contributor: Thomas Braatz (December 2007)