Circle of Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp 1599-1641 Blackfriars)

This picture is related to the head of Saint Anthony from Anthony van Dyck's 'The Vision of Saint Anthony' in the Brera Gallery, Milan, as was kindly pointed out by Prof. Dr. Horst Vey (verbal communication, 17 December 2008). A similar sketch in the collection of Sir William Brampton Gurdon, Assington Hall, Suffolk, is considered a preliminary study for the Brera painting by Dr. Eric Larsen (see The Paintings of Anthony van Dyck, Freren, 1988, II, p. 267, no. 657, illustrated). Prof Dr. Hans Vlieghe (written communication, 22 September 2008) suggests the present lot may have been done by Van Dyck's best pupil, Lucas Franchoys II (Mechelen 1616-1681).
We are grateful to Prof. Dr. Horst Vey and Prof. Dr. Hans Vlieghe for their help in cataloguing this lot.