JACOB ADRIAENSZ. BACKER (HARLINGEN 1608-1651 AMSTERDAM)

This sheet, executed in Backer's characteristic technique combining black and white chalk in a soft and controlled manner, is a particularly fine and large example of the artist's figure studies. In these drawings the artist demonstrates his talent as a figure draughtsman, but also his ability to render different fabrics. As observed by Werner Sumowski, the same figure as depicted here seems to be shown in a drawing in the British Museum. Sumowski dates both sheets to around 1640-45 (see Sumowski, op. cit., no. 29, illustrated). The drawing may furthermore be grouped with two sheets showing women turned to the left in the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich (inv. 13401 and 13706; see Sumowski, op. cit., nos. 34 and 62) and another version of the present composition in the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig (inv. Z 366; see Amsterdam and Aachen, op. cit., p. 182, fig. 1). Döring has suggested that the present drawing might be a study for the standing figure in the lost Crowning of Mirtillo (ibid., p. 52, fig. 50).