drawing
- Museum number
- 1997,0118.1
- Description
-
Niobe preventing the Theban women from worshipping Leto, illustration from Ovid, 'Metamorphoses', Book 6, 146-203; Niobe, wearing crown, kicking over tripod brazier in front of altar surmounted with statue of Goddess Leto seated with children, worshipping figures lean back in alarm around altar, soldiers and children, one with bird, to left, all in landscape
Brush drawing in black and grey ink, with grey wash over traces of black chalk, mounted on light brown laid paper
- Production date
- 1649-1700
- Dimensions
-
Height: 176 millimetres
-
Height: 305 millimetres
-
Width: 360 millimetres (mount)
-
Width: 234 millimetres (sheet)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- This drawing and the lot following it in the sale in which it was purchased, were part of a series of 83 illustrations of Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' by Maes, which remained together until 1762. See J. van Tatenhove, 'Tekeningen door Jacob de Wit voor de Ovidus van Picart', "Leids Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek 1985, Achttiende-Eeuwse Kunst in de Nederlanden", Delft, 1987, pp. 211-234. Two other drawings from this group were sold at Sotheby's, London, 3.vii.1996/188-9. See also 'Old Master Drawings', Sotheby's, 10 November 1998, p.62, no.110.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2001 May-Sep BM, P&D, 'Paper Assets' (no cat.)
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Metamorphoses
- Acquisition date
- 1997
- Acquisition notes
- This item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45. The British Museum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.
The group of Ovid drawings by Maes remained together until the 1762 Cronenburgh sale. For full provenance, see entry in sale catalogue (copy in dossier).
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1997,0118.1
