Head Wearing a Plumed Turban, Facing Right (from the series Small Studies of Heads in Oriental Headdress)
Artist
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
Italian, 1609-1664
Dateca. 1645-50
MediumEtching on laid paper
DimensionsSheet: 4 15/16 x 3 7/8 in. (12.5 x 9.8 cm)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineGift in memory of Leon H. and Marie Buttlar Sparling by their family
Object number2008.20.18
On View
Not on viewCollections
- Works on Paper
SignedSigned in the plate, UR, a monogram of GBand C above "Castilione" (no 'g') above
"Genovese", both lightly block printed.
InscribedOn the reverse:
1. "42" in blue pencil in the LR
2. "II.B" in pencil in the LL.
On the inside of the mat
1. A typed label cut out from a previous mat and attached to new mat bottom center "original copper engraving/ by CASTIGLIONE, in service/ of the Duke of Mantua,,/Chas I,/(1616-1670)
2. Block printed in pencil in the LR "Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione,/1610-1655/
Young Woman Wearing a/Plumed Turban Facing right/from Small Studies of Heads in Oriental Headdress,/ca. 1645-1650"
MarkingsPartial large watermark along right edge consisting of three scrolls that may be part of the foliage around a larger cartouche.
DescriptionA profile facing right, wearing a wrapped headdress. The 'turban' is somewhat conical with a feathered plume at the front and a single teardrop-shaped pearl or stone suspended below it laying on the forehead. The crown of the headdress is open and has hair flowing out of it and there is much hair below the lower edge of the headdress as well. There is a bow above the neck at the back. The shoulders are covered with a drape secured with a circular pin or fibula.Bartsch gives the title as "Young Woman...," however, this may be a 19th-century take on male vs female dress and hair. The portrait is consistent with other images of men drawn by Castiglione, including his own in the print "The Genius of Castiglione" in the British Museum (W,6.15) and that of David in a drawing of 'David with the Head of Goliath' in the coll. of the National Gallery of Art (1977.30.1). The British Museum, which owns most, if not all, of this series avoids the issue by using the series name "Small Oriental Heads" as the 'title' and describing all these images as "Head" rather than identifying them as male or female. A review of the images of this series in the BM coll shows that most of the subjects are men, indicated clearly with a beard, however the few without facial hair are not readily distinguished as young men or women. (see file)
Printed on a textured paper that approximates the appearance of skin, possibly vellum?Exhibition History"Old Master Prints from the Sparling Family Collection", Hoopes Gallery, The Hyde Collection, February 28 - May 24, 2009.ProvenanceBefore 1938, New York, NY, William Randolph Hearst (according to Richard Helbig)
By 1941, New York, NY, Gimbels Department Store (according to Richard Helbig)
New York, NY, Richard Helbig
2006, Houston, TX, Tobin Sparling
2008, Glens Falls, NY, The Hyde Collection Trust
