Provenance of a drawing
For years, I believed this was a sketch of a tiger. Only recently did I start to think it might actually be a sketch of a lioness.
Now the question is, who sketched it?
As a child, I visited the artist’s studio with my parents. I can’t remember why. I know they had bought one of his paintings and later exchanged it for one with an African theme. My father sold African curios, and I vaguely recall the artist being interested in them. Perhaps for research?
I saw the sketch and asked if I could have it. I distinctly remember him hesitating, but he eventually gave it to me.
I was incredibly proud to have it and showed it to my friends when I got home. Then it was folded up and placed between the pages of a large book of the artist’s paintings and forgotten.
Recently, I rediscovered the sketch and showed it to my daughters. I thought about its provenance and realized it was unprovable.
Everyone who was in the room is dead, except for me! That sounds very dramatic.
And the sketch isn’t signed.
Did it ever get used in a picture? I don’t know.
The artist’s name?