ITALIAN DRAWINGS FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION

GIOVANNI MANNOZZI, CALLED GIOVANNI DA SAN GIOVANNI (SAN GIOVANNI VALDARNO 1592-1636 FLORENCE)

Ghismonda discovering Guiscardo's heart

Details

GIOVANNI MANNOZZI, CALLED GIOVANNI DA SAN GIOVANNI (SAN GIOVANNI VALDARNO 1592-1636 FLORENCE)
Ghismonda discovering Guiscardo's heart
with inscription 'Gio da San Gio' possibly by Charles Rogers and with number '89'
red chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash
6 3/8 x 5 ¾ in. (16.2 x 14.6 cm.)

Provenance

Francesco Maria Gaburri.
C. Rogers (L. 625), his mount with his inscription 'Fatum Ghismundae'.
J. McGouan (L. 1496); T. Philipe, London, 31 January 1804, lot 86, where acquired by W. Esdaile.
W. Esdaile (L. 2617), his inscriptions '86 McGouan 1804/Giovanni.' and 'J. M.c Gouan's sale 1804 WE. P 58 (crossed out) 64. N 86.' and 'Formerly in the coll of Cha.s Rogers.'; Christie's, London, 18 June 1840, part of lot 117 (£26 to Sheath).
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 5 July 1994, lot 30.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, Paris, 21 March 2002, lot 56, where acquired by the present owner.

Engraved

by Carlo Gregori in 1735 (Le Blanc 38).

Lot Essay

An inscription on the engraving by Carlo Gregori (1719-1759) informs us that the drawing belonged to the art historian and collector Niccolò Gaburri (1676-1742). The peculiar subject is taken from Boccaccio’s Decameron (IV, 1) and illustrates the dramatic moment when Ghismonda unveiled the heart of her lover Guiscardo, placed by her devious father Tancredi on a golden platter.

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