4464 - Ramberg, Johann Heinrich

Ramberg, Johann Heinrich (1763 – Hanover – 1840). Dido abandoned by Aeneas. Aeneas’ Farewell to Dido. Pen in black, washed in reddish-brown and highlighted with white overpainting, over pencil, on brownish paper, with gold braid, several ink lines, and a border washed in light green, titled in French by the artist’s own hand at the bottom center, signed and dated “Dessiné et inv: par H. Ramberg Mens: Aug: 1776?” at the bottom right. 27.9 x 41 cm. "An extensive collection of drawings by the young Ramberg, preserved in Hanover as a gift from Ramberg’s descendants, ... provides insights into how Ramberg was instructed by his father and how his talent was nurtured. The drawings date back to 1774, when Ramberg, at the age of eleven, was drawing in red chalk after ancient models, plaster casts, and prints, such as those found in the War Secretary’s collection.... In 1776, he devoted himself to scenes of shepherds and fishermen, cherubs, but also heads and figures in the style of Rembrandt, as well as classical themes such as Mucius Scaevola." (Quoted from: A. von Rohr, Johann Heinrich Ramberg 1773–Hanover–1840. Painter for King and People. Hanover 1998, p. 13). Further reading: Elfried Bock, The German Masters, Descriptive Catalog of All Drawings, 2 vols., Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, The Drawings of Old Masters in the Kupferstichkabinett, ed. by Max Friedländer, Berlin 1921. Vol. I, p. 272, no. 3583, Vol. II; The Art of German Drawing IV, German Drawings of the 18th Century from the Collection of the Berlin Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Goethe-Institut, London 1985.