A Study of Women Conversing
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Description
Probably born in Rouen to a Huguenot goldsmith and pewter maker who left Rouen in 1568 with his family, Isaac was first apprenticed to Nicholas Hilliard. His earliest dated work shows his masters’ influence. He may have traveled to the Netherlands as his art also shows his knowledge of art of the low lands. In 1596 he was recorded in Venice where he made drawings after Parmigianino. Italian art supplanted the prior influences of the Netherlands and the school of Fontainebleau while Isaac was developing a feeling for naturalism. In 1605 he was appointed “painter for the art of limning” and Queen Anne of Denmark and the Prince of Wales before he became Charles I.
From details on one of his drawings, which show a Madonna (della Vallicella) from Rubens’s altarpiece, (completed only in 1608) are surmises that Isaac made another trip to Italy in about 1610.
After his first wife died in 1599 he married another Huguenot refugee, the sister of the Flemish painter Marcus Gheeraerts. He became an English citizen in 1606, the same year that he married the daughter of a court musician.
Isaac and Inigo Jones were the first artists working in England to leave a large quantity of drawings, which demonstrated in subject matter, style, and a knowledge of Continental European art. Isaac became a successful artist during the Stuart period and a rival to Hilliard. He was known both for small and larger miniatures.
As in this drawing his unusual poses and the relationships between the figures are similar to the paintings of Primaticcio and Nicolo dell’Abbate, and poses seen in works of the Fontainebleau school (which engravings Oliver could have studied). His work was related to the mannerist artists active in Haarlem from the last decade of the 16th century.
His drawings are in the collections of her majesty the Queen of England, The Louvre Museum, Paris, The National Portrait Gallery, London, Tate Gallery, London, The Courtauld Institute of Art, London, The Yale Center for British Art, The former collections of J. Richardson and Sir Thomas Lawrence, The British Museum, The Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge and the Art Fund for UK Museums.
We wish to thank Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann for his help in identifying the artist. -
More Information
Notes: We wish to thank Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann for his help in identifying the artist. Origin: England Period: Pre 18th Century Materials: Pen and black ink with brown wash heightened with white gouache on tan wove paper; laid on old mount Condition: Good. Creation Date: 1560-1617 Styles / Movements: Old Master, Other Incollect Reference #: 305527 -
Dimensions
W. 5.13 in; H. 3.75 in; W. 13.03 cm; H. 9.53 cm;
Message from Seller:
The gallery deals in European works of art, antiques and paintings from antiquity to the end of the eighteenth century. Under Mrs. Fioratti's direction, the gallery has continued to supply works of art to museums across America and Europe. She has designed interiors in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Mrs. Fioratti has worked on architectural restorations, and restored a 10th century village near Siena.