(Italian, 1575-1642) 

Two Studies of a Left and Right Hand, unsigned, inscribed faintly in red chalk verso, inscribed verso in pencil with number "137", black and red chalk on fibrous blue laid paper, 6-3/8 x 9 in.; painted and gilt wood frame, 14-7/8 x 17-1/2 x 1 in.

Provenance: J. C. Wawra Gallery, Vienna, 1908; The Albertina Museum, Vienna, Austria; Ex-collection of Janos Scholz; Herbert E. Feist Gallery, New York (label verso); Private Collection

Note: Janos Scholz, a cellist, art collector and benefactor of the Pierpont Morgan Library, was not consistent in marking his collection (see János Scholz, New York, no mark; see Lugt S. 2933b). The paper and technique seem very close to an example held by The Morgan Museum and Library (see: https://www.themorgan.org/drawings/item/142572).

It is noted on the backing that this drawing was authenticated by the late Dr. Stephen Pepper (1937-2000). It appears to be from the portfolio of Bolognese drawings once in the Albertina and later broken up, supported by the pencil inscribed number. The note associated with the portfolio title page (https://www.themorgan.org/drawings/item/140818) held by The Morgan Library & Museum states, "This is the title page from a portfolio of 384 drawings acquired by the Albertina from the J. C. Wawra Gallery in Vienna in 1908 but subsequently sold when they were declared the property of Archduke Friedrich of Hapsburg after World War I. The album had been dismembered at the Albertina, and it was not kept together when it was sold. Many drawings ended up in Berlin, and another group was sold to a Viennese collector and subsequently made its way to the United States. In the introduction to his 1976 exhibition catalogue, Scholz explains that the album 'became available here in New York' about 1940. He acquired a large group of the drawings--among them a notable group of studies by Cavedone--as well as this title page, probably the work of a Bolognese dealer in the early eighteenth century. More than 40 sheets from the album came to the Morgan with Scholz's collection."