Abraham Bloemaert (Gorinchem 1564/66-1651 Utrecht)

A formerly unpublished drawing, considered lost by Bolten in 2007 (op. cit.), which was known through two copies of the composition, one in the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich (Bolten, op. cit., no. 25a) and the other in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (Bolten, op. cit., no. 25b). Bolten dates the drawing to circa 1610-12, on the basis of the Rubensian similarities of form with Bloemaert's designs for a series of engravings of The Hermits for Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert (circa 1585-1633).

We are grateful to Dr Jaap Bolten, who has confirmed the attribution to Bloemaert on the basis of a digital image and who will include this drawing in the forthcoming addenda to his catalogue raisonné.