Skulls is a lot composed by two original drawings, Skull with hourglass and owl and Skull with Candle leaning on ...

Skulls is a lot composed by two original drawings, Skull with hourglass and owl and Skull with Candle leaning on Book realized by Alessandro Dalla Nave. Skull with hourglass and owl is a wonderful pen and brown-ink drawing on white laid paper. Monogram and inscription in pen and brown China ink on the lower left margin "A. D. N. fecit 1819 etatis suae 86". In excellent conditions, except for an imperceptible dark spot at the center and some usual yellowing of the paper on the edges. A skull is shown in profile with extreme attention to skeletal anatomy, resting on a folding stand near a hourglass, on which there is a perched owl. On the right of the skull, there are a cross and a torch. Plenty of vanitas symbols are represented in this fresh original drawing. Skull with Candle leaning on Book is a wonderful pen and brown China ink drawing on white laid watermarked paper (15.3 x 15.7 cm). Inscription in pen and brown China ink on the lower left margin "Al.ro Dalla Nave f. 1819 e Anni 86". The painter had a long life and career: he painted until the age of 88, as documented by some of his drawings signed "A.D.N. f. 1821, years 88". A skull is shown in profile near a burning candle leaning on a book. Almost all the symbols of vanitas are represented in this fresh and charming original drawing as well. This precious drawing is in excellent conditions. Some autograph writings on the verso can be seen in transparency.
17 x 17 e 15,3 x 15,7