Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1609-1664
Two Shepherds with a Flock of Sheep
15 1/2 x 21 inches (394 x 532 mm)
Oil paint.
2017.26
Thaw Collection.
Notes
Watermark: none.
This work, one of the many pastoral subjects by Castiglione, displays his highly distinctive and virtuosic drawing style. Using a reddish brown pigment mixed with linseed oil, the artist rapidly sketched the scene before reinforcing certain lines more carefully. He then set off the clouds in the sky brilliantly with patches of blue. Castiglione probably considered drawings such as this one as finished works in their own right despite their sketchy character, although whether he sold them or kept them for his own studio use is unknown. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
This work, one of the many pastoral subjects by Castiglione, displays his highly distinctive and virtuosic drawing style. Using a reddish brown pigment mixed with linseed oil, the artist rapidly sketched the scene before reinforcing certain lines more carefully. He then set off the clouds in the sky brilliantly with patches of blue. Castiglione probably considered drawings such as this one as finished works in their own right despite their sketchy character, although whether he sold them or kept them for his own studio use is unknown. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
Inscriptions/Markings
Inscribed in pen and brown ink at upper center, "17".
Associated names
Heinemann, Rudolf J., former owner.
Heinemann, Rudolf J., Mrs., former owner.
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Heinemann, Rudolf J., Mrs., former owner.
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Bibliography
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY, "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection", 2017. Exh. cat., no. 39, repr.
The Thaw Collection : Master Drawings and Oil Sketches : Acquisitions since 1994. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 2002, no. 4, repr.
The Thaw Collection : Master Drawings and Oil Sketches : Acquisitions since 1994. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 2002, no. 4, repr.
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department