Johann Christoph DIETZSCH Nuremberg, 1710 – 1769 Waterfall in a landscape with two characters Black chalk 247 x 192 mm – 9 3/4 x 7 9/16 in. Mounted on an old mount. Annotated 210 in ink bottom left. Annotated JC Dietzch Cab of Spengler no. 703 bottom left on the mount. Annotated JCD. ink on the back bottom left. Numbered in pencil 703, 289 crossed out and 290. Provenance:
- Dry stamp at the bottom “JCS”, collection of Johan Conrad Spengler (1767-1839), director of the Copenhagen Museum and Painting Gallery (Lugt 1434)
- Dry stamp lower left « BW » crowned, collection of Benjamin Wolff (1790-1866), businessman and art collector (Lugt 420).
Johann Christoph Dietzsch was born in Nuremberg in 1710 into a family of artists. He works as a draughtsman, engraver and painter in this German city. He mainly illustrates landscapes created in the surrounding countryside. He published several series of copper engravings depicting views of the city of Nuremberg and portraits of artists. His works were famous in his time, and his cabinet of natural history and objects of curiosities was renowned.
We can compare our sheet to other drawings by the artist in the way of vividly representing the foliage of trees and rocks such as’ un Waterfall landscape near rocky cliffs[1] (fig. 1), a Wide path with two horsemen and three walkers [2], a Landscape on the edge of a wood with two men [3] (fig. 2) or Travelers in a steep landscape [4]. Status report: Good condition. Small spot in the middle of the high border.
[1] Black chalk and gray ink wash; 303 x 222 mm (Washington, National Gallery of Art, Inv. 2012.69.2). Drawing probably dating from the 1750s. [2] Black chalk and gray ink wash; 332 x 253 mm (Frankfurt am Main, Städel Museum, inv. 1402). [3] Pen and brown ink wash; 110 x 122 mm (Frankfurt am Main, Städel Museum, inv. 1937). [4] Black chalk with gray ink wash; 242 x 334 mm (Washington, National Gallery of Art, Inv. 1984.1.8)
