Letter by Guercino, Bologna, to Cardinal Giovanni Stefano Donghi, 1648 November 19 : autograph manuscript signed.

Guercino sent this letter to an unnamed agent of Mazarin's, perhaps Cardinal Stefano Donghi, who sometimes supervised Mazarin's purchases of art. The note refers to a previous letter of 9 September 1648 and explains that one of the paintings discussed therein -- a composition with three half-length figures -- was now finished and would cost 180 silver ducatoni in accord with Guercino's rate of 60 ducatoni per half-figure. This commission was likely intended to hang as a pendant to the Denial of St. Peter from 1646 in Mazarin's collection, which also had three half-length figures. -- Exhibition label: Guercino, virtuoso draftsman, Morgan Library & Museum, 4 October 2019-2 February 2020.