FRANCESCO SALVATOR FONTEBASSO (1707-1769)
Bust of a woman seen from behind, her head in profile (recto); Reclining female figure seen from behind (verso)
inscribed 'del Guardi'
black chalk, pen and brown ink, partial (?) proprietary watermark FC
8⅞ x 7 in. (22.5 x 18 cm.)

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Lot Essay

The handling of the chalk and the modelling around the eyes and mouth in the lively portrait study on the recto speak of the influence that Fontebasso’s master Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734) exerted on his pupil’s draughtsmanship.

The reclining figure on the verso is similar to the central figure in the drawing of Six nymphs and two putti by a pool held in the Art Museum at Princeton (X1946-1). The latter drawing relates to an etching by Fontebasso dated 1744, (A. de Vesme, Le Peintre graveur italien, Milan 1906, 476, no. 5 ('Six nymphes et deux Amours dans un paysage').