“Anon,” short for anonymous, is as common in art history as “Smith” is in American telephone directories. Yet for a specific work to have its maker buried in an unmarked grave in history’s Potters Field is a sad epitaph indeed.
Credit implies ownership and accountability. Around the 18th century art became more commonly a function of individual creators who received credit. The term “Anon” is less commonly found in art histories of this era. In fact, the signature became an important component of a work, even for lesser artists.