Pietro Berretini da Cortona (1596-1669)

A Wooded River Landscape Rome, about 1650 Black chalk, brush and grey ink, grey wash 283 x 425 mm Cortona was, along with Bernini, a presiding genius of the Roman Baroque. Excelling as a painter, architect and decorator, he also executed a number of landscape drawings, often as pure diversions. One of the finest examples, … Read more

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (1609-1664)

God the Father regarding the Infant Christ  Rome, 1645-7 Etching Plate: 260 x 200 mm, mount: 557 x 406 mm Castiglione represents the Holy Family as natural human figures. A plump infant Christ sleeps peacefully, watched by the Virgin Mary and an unusually tangible and human God. Catistiglione was greatly influenced by Rembrandt’s chiaroscuro etchings … Read more

Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693)

Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Dutch, about 1670-80 Pen and brown wash 20.5 x 32.5 cm The subject is from the ‘Kings’, XVII: 10. This drawing shows the biblical story from Kings during which the Lord directs Elijah to the town gates of Zarephath where a widow has been directed to provide him with … Read more

Lambert Doomer (1622/3-1700)

Rock Dwellings at Saumur on the Loire Dutch, 1646 Pen with grey and brown washes 22.8 x 36.5 cm The inhabitants of a rock dwelling execute their daily tasks. This scene at Saumur is on of a number of drawings made in the Loire Valley by the artist en route from Nantes in 1646. Other … Read more

Jean Morin (c. 1590-1650)

Omer Talon  Paris, early 1650s Engraving Mount: 55.7 x 40.5 cm  This portrait is based on Philippe de Champaigne’s full-length painting of Omer Talon (1595-1652) produced in 1649. Champaigne was a founder of the French Academy in the mid 17th century and is best known for his portraits of royalty and important political figures. Talon’s … Read more

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677)

The Thames Below Westminster Pier London, about 1638 Pen and brown ink  14.6 x 40.1 cm  This is an example of Hollar’s comparatively rare drawings as opposed to his etchings of English scenery. This view is taken looking upstream. The buildings are marked as ‘Lambeth House’, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, ‘Parliament House’ … Read more

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677)

Muscarum Scarabeorum Vermiumque Variae Figurae et Formae 1646 Etchings Wenclaus Hollar was born in Prague, but worked across Europe including in Stuttgart, Strasburg, Frankfurt and Cologne, where he became employed by Thomas Howard, the Earl of Arundel (1585-1646). Howard was a court member of King Charles I, and renowned for his collection of art and artefacts. King Charles … Read more

Carlo Maratti (1625-1713)

Study for the Head of St Charles Borromeo Rome, 1658-90 Red chalk heightened with white on blue paper 36.1 x 27.9 cm This drawing is a study for the head of the figure of Saint Carlo Borromeo in the High Altarpiece of the Church of  S. Carlo al Corso, Rome. This study represents Saint Carlo … Read more

Claude Lorrain (1604/5-1682)

Sunrise Rome, 1634 Etching Paper: 12.9 x 20 cm; mount: 40.5 x 56 cm This marine scene bustles with activity as figures gesticulate, exchange glances and huddle in groups. The sun, which faintly be seen on the horizon, floods the picture with light and blurs the distant mountains. Opposite the triumphal Arch of Titus on … Read more

Jan Both (c. 1618-1652)

The Mule Driver Netherlands, 1630s Etching  22 x 29.5 cm The mule with a low-slung head struggling under the weight of a heavy load is a motif that frequently appears in Both’s Italianate landscape scenes. For many, the mule was an affordable means of transport and an ideal working animal, combining the endurance and sure-footedness … Read more

Agostino Tassi (1578-1644)

Musicians  Rome, 17th century Pen and brown iron gall ink over black chalk on paper 12.1 x 15.4 cm Three comparable sheets of groups of music-makers are at the British Museum, a group of five standing musicians was with Christie’s in 2003 and three separate figure studies engaged in playing an instrument are at the … Read more

Arent van Bolten (about 1573 – 1633)

Lamp in the form of a Grotesque Bird Model: Amsterdam or Zwolle, about 1620; Cast: Northern Europe, probably about 1900 Bronze 17 cm high The model for this curious creature can be traced to a series of drawings of grotesque beasts, in the then fashionable auricular (or ‘ear-like’) style, by the Dutch designer and silversmith … Read more

after Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640)

Portrait of Helena Fourment? Antwerp, 1630-1635 Drawing with black and red chalk heightened with white 561 x 351 mm Both the former attribution to Rubens and the identification of the sitter as Helena Fourment are doubtful, and compromised by poor condition. The traditional identification of the sitter as the artist’s second wife stems from the … Read more

Follower of Rembrandt, Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-1669), possibly Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678)

Study of a Nude Youth Amsterdam, about 1646 Pen and ink with brown wash  274 x 160 mm Rembrandt and his pupils are known to have made life drawings of naked male models in about 1646. The model here was possibly Rembrandt’s young student Willem Drost. He appears in a number of studio drawings by … Read more

Prestige & Power

Projecting identity in 17th-century Portraiture Artists, writers, politicians and royalty come under the spotlight in this display, which explores how portraiture was used to assert status, celebrate achievements and project individuality in the 17th century. It features prints, drawings and miniatures from the Barber’s own collection along with miniatures on loan from two fine private … Read more

The Collection

The Barber Institute contains one of the finest small collections of European art in the UK. The works have been purchased to fit Lady Barber’s criteria that everything should be of ‘that standard of quality required by the National Gallery or Wallace Collection’. Careful consideration has also been given to making sure that the works … Read more