Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (1609-1664)
Five head studies, from the series of 'Large Oriental Heads'
Etchings, circa 1645-1650, all good well inked impressions on various laid papers, the etching 'Bearded head full-face in shadow' with a watermark of postal horn within crowned armorial device, the portrait traditionally identified as Lorenzo Bernini without watermark but paper appears "early" albeit trimmed just within the the platemark at lower edge, the other 3 on slightly thicker cream laid papers without watermarks, each platemark approx. 180 x 150 mm (7 x 5 3/4 in), some spotting and surface dirt (unframed)

Literature:
cf. Bartsch 48-53; Bellini 41-45