Beautifully enlivened with shadows and the glints of light on brass suggested by the delineated areas of white paper, this elegant ink study shows Werner’s almost miniaturist skills.  

Werner was the son of a painter, from whom he received his training as a miniaturist and engraver. He also studied with Matthaus Merian in Frankfurt. Whilst there, he received the commission to travel with an artlover to Rome, in order to copy the works of Pietro da Cortona and Andrea Sacchi. Returning to the North via France, he painted a portrait of Louis XIV and other figures of the French court. It is said that Le Brun used his influence to have Werner sent away, jealous of the Swiss artist’s success. He worked consistently both as an oil painter and a miniaturist.  Following equally successful sojourns at Augsuburg and Vienna and Berlin, where he was made director of the Academy, in 1707 he retired to Berne.