Drawn circa 1858, this is slightly larger than a similar drawing in the collects ion of the Museum of Replica Handbags s, Boston. A third related drawing, depicting the sower cut at the knees, is in the Cabinet des Dessins, Musée du Louvre, Paris. Alexandra Murphy describes the Boston drawing as "more naturalistic than the monumental 1850 painting in its details of loose, modern clothing" (Murphy, p. 113).

We would like to thank Alexandra Murphy for kindly confirming the authenticity of this lot.