Guercino
1591-1666
The Martrydom of St. Bartholomew
1635-1636
9 11/16 x 7 9/16 inches (246 x 192 mm)
Pen and brown ink and wash, on laid paper.
I, 101e
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1909.
Notes
For Guercino's painting of the subject, now in the church of San Martino, Siena.
After a contract dispute prevented the delivery of an altarpiece by Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647) to the Mancini family chapel in the church of San Martino, Siena, Guercino was commissioned to paint a replacement work. This study for the altarpiece echoes Lanfranco's version of the subject and must have been one of Guercino's earliest sketches, as several later drawings reveal the work's development toward its final form; in all, the focus is on the violent act of the executioners, who prepare to kill the saint by flaying him. -- Exhibition label: Guercino, virtuoso draftsman, Morgan Library & Museum, 4 October 2019-2 February 2020.
After a contract dispute prevented the delivery of an altarpiece by Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647) to the Mancini family chapel in the church of San Martino, Siena, Guercino was commissioned to paint a replacement work. This study for the altarpiece echoes Lanfranco's version of the subject and must have been one of Guercino's earliest sketches, as several later drawings reveal the work's development toward its final form; in all, the focus is on the violent act of the executioners, who prepare to kill the saint by flaying him. -- Exhibition label: Guercino, virtuoso draftsman, Morgan Library & Museum, 4 October 2019-2 February 2020.
Associated names
Greville, Charles, 1762-1832, former owner.
Warwick, George Guy Greville, Earl of, 1818-1893, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner.
Warwick, George Guy Greville, Earl of, 1818-1893, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner.
Bibliography
Marciari, John. Guercino : virtuoso draftsman. New York : Morgan Library & Museum, in association with Paul Holberton Publishing, 2019, no. 18, repr.
Stampfle and Bean 1967, no. 41; Salerno 1988, 247; Stone 1991a, 82-87; Turner and Plazzotta 1991, 136; Mahon 1991-92, no. 89; Brooks 2006, 60-63; Giles et al. 2014, 148; Turner 2017, 503.
Stampfle and Bean 1967, no. 41; Salerno 1988, 247; Stone 1991a, 82-87; Turner and Plazzotta 1991, 136; Mahon 1991-92, no. 89; Brooks 2006, 60-63; Giles et al. 2014, 148; Turner 2017, 503.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department