Anonymous Artist

The designation Anonymous Artist refers to works spanning over four centuries, reflecting the challenges in attribution for pieces created between 1470 and 1900. This lengthy period of activity confirms that the term represents multiple distinct historical individuals or workshops whose identities remain unverified within institutional records.

The collective oeuvre attributed to Anonymous Artist and represented in major American collections includes a variety of mediums. Ten works are documented in institutional databases, comprising five prints, three paintings, and two drawings. These holdings confirm the use of both graphic and pictorial arts over several centuries. Significant examples of Anonymous Artist paintings and prints are preserved in the National Gallery of Art, establishing the works’ historical and research importance.

Notable works held in these collections include the paintings The Annunciation and Agostino Barbarigo, as well as the drawing Saint Bernard with Donor [obverse]. Other referenced pieces, such as Miss Nelly O’Brien and Nine Figures, further demonstrate the technical breadth covered by this attribution designation. Given the age and historical significance of the majority of these works, many are now considered part of the public domain, allowing cultural institutions to facilitate access to high-quality prints for study and appreciation.