Circle of Hendrick Goltzius (Mühlbracht 1558-1617 Haarlem)

Previously given to Hendrik Goltzius (1558-1617) and exhibited as such in the 1976-77 exhibition, this drawing is no longer considered to be by the Haarlem master. The attribution in the 1976-77 catalogue was based on the comparison to a drawing by Goltzius, also showing a lumpsucker, now in the Bibliothèque Royale Albert 1er, Brussels (inv. s.v. 62409; M. Royalton-Kisch, in Dawn of the Golden Age: Northern Netherlandish Art: 1580-1620, exhib. cat., Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1993-94, no. 19). However, the technique in which the present drawing is executed differs significantly from that by Goltzius. Where Goltzius’ drawing combines black chalk and watercolour, the present drawing is executed exclusively with a brush.

It has been suggested that the work could have been executed by an Italian artist.