Guercino (Italian, 1591-1666) Study for St. John the Baptist Unsigned. Brown ink and wash on paper, 10 1/2 x 7 5/8 in. (26.5 x 19.2 cm), framed. Condition: Sheet lined with laid paper backing, tears and losses to the l.r. quadrant, toning, staining. N.B. This study for St. John the Baptist has been reviewed by Dr. Nicholas Turner from high resolution photographs. Dr. Turner believes the work to be a newly-rediscovered, authentic drawing by Guercino, made in preparation for his oil painting, St. John the Baptist , now on permanent display in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Guercino's Vienna picture, created for the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinando III in 1641, was the most prestigious commission of the artist's career. Dr. Turner writes, "Guercino's pen-and-ink drawings from the early 1640s, like this example, are powerful and fast-paced in execution and have long been admired for their energy." Dr. Turner continues that the single largest group of Guercino's drawings to have remained together are now in the Royal Library of Windsor Castle, purchased from Guercino's heirs in the late 1750s. The Windsor collection includes a copy of the study at hand, which Dr. Turner now believes to be a facsimile copy made by Francesco Bartolozzi (Italian, 1727-1815). A letter from Nicholas Turner with a more complete analysis of the drawing accompanies the lot.
Guercino (Italian, 1591-1666) Study for St. John the Baptist Unsigned. Brown ink and wash on paper, 10 1/2 x 7 5/8 in. (26.5 x 19.2 cm), framed. Condition: Sheet lined with laid paper backing, tears and losses to the l.r. quadrant, toning, staining. N.B. This study for St. John the Baptist has been reviewed by Dr. Nicholas Turner from high resolution photographs. Dr. Turner believes the work to be a newly-rediscovered, authentic drawing by Guercino, made in preparation for his oil painting, St. John the Baptist , now on permanent display in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Guercino's Vienna picture, created for the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinando III in 1641, was the most prestigious commission of the artist's career. Dr. Turner writes, "Guercino's pen-and-ink drawings from the early 1640s, like this example, are powerful and fast-paced in execution and have long been admired for their energy." Dr. Turner continues that the single largest group of Guercino's drawings to have remained together are now in the Royal Library of Windsor Castle, purchased from Guercino's heirs in the late 1750s. The Windsor collection includes a copy of the study at hand, which Dr. Turner now believes to be a facsimile copy made by Francesco Bartolozzi (Italian, 1727-1815). A letter from Nicholas Turner with a more complete analysis of the drawing accompanies the lot.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
