Two Female Figures (Possibly Pomona and an Attendant or Goddesses of Plenty)
Old Master Drawing, oval format • Attributed to the Circle of Bartholomeus Spranger (1546–1611) or Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617)
Style & Movement
Northern Mannerism (Haarlem-Prague school)
Medium & Technique
Pen and brown ink with wash and white heightening (biacca) over black chalk on laid paper
Creation Period
Late 16th to early 17th century (circa 1590-1610)
Dimensions & Format
Small oval tondo, approximately 15-20 cm in diameter, portrait-orientation composition within an oval frame
Subject Description
The composition features two dynamic female figures in an oval tondo. The figure on the left holds a cornucopia or large vessel filled with fruit and flowers, suggesting an allegory of Abundance or Pomona. The figures exhibit the 'serpentine' pose (figura serpentinata) and elongated proportions characteristic of Mannerism, likely reflecting the cultural exchange between the court of Rudolf II in Prague and the Dutch artistic center of Haarlem.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; exhibits signs of age common for 400-year-old works on paper
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $8,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $7,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely from a European collector’s album; the 'Haarlem-Prague' designation indicates a scholarly or trade provenance linking it to the Rudolfine court style.
Art Historical Significance
A significant example of the international Mannerist style. It illustrates the 'Haarlem-Prague axis,' where the refined, eroticized, and highly stylized aesthetics of Bartholomeus Spranger influenced Dutch artists like Goltzius and Cornelis van Haarlem, defining the late Renaissance in Northern Europe.
Notable Features
Excellent use of white heightening to create volume and 'shimmer' on the skin; the muscular yet graceful anatomical treatment typical of Spranger's influence; distinctive oval format frequently used for decorative designs or medallions.
Condition Issues
Visible edge wear and minor losses at the right edge; slight oxidation of the white lead heightening (turning grey/black); minor foxing and general yellowing of the paper substrate; possible trimming to an oval shape from a larger sheet.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning by a paper conservator recommended to address oxidation; mounting on acid-free supports; framed under UV-filtering museum glass with controlled humidity and low light exposure.
Collector Notes
Haarlem-Prague axis.