Hubert François Gravelot

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Hubert François Gravelot
1699-1773
Preliminary Drawing for Canto III of Alessandro Tassoni's "Secchia rapita"
ca. 1766
Pen and ink and pencil on paper, mounted on paper backing.
5 5/16 x 3 3/8 inches (134 x 85 mm)
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
2003.22:6
Notes: 

Gravelot's design is preparatory for an illustration to Canto III of an edition of Alessandro Tassoni's "Secchia rapita" (“The Stolen Bucket”), published in Paris by Lorenzo Prault and Pietro Durand in 1766. Tassoni's mock-heroic poem, originally published in Paris in 1622, blends the construct of an epic with an absurd premise: a 14th century war between Modena and Bologna was actually caused by the Modenese stealing a bucket from Bologna. The corresponding plate appears facing p. 47 in the published volume and is captioned “Tu salverai quella famosa secchia che con tanto valor fia combattuta”. The scene shows Venus at the bedside of the sleeping King Enzio of Modena.

Provenance: 
From the library of Gordon N. Ray.
Associated names: 

Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915-1986, former owner.

Bibliography: 

Kraemer, Ruth S. "Drawings by Gravelot for Alessandro Tassoni's mock-heroic poem La secchia rapita." Master drawings, XXVIII (Autumn 1990), p. 338-343, no. 6.

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