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Lot Essay
Sigismondo Caula was one of the leading painters and decorators in Modena between the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th Century. He trained under the French artist Jean Boulanger (1606-1660), and mainly worked for the Este family, rulers of Modena and the surrounding region. While numerous paintings by his hand survive, drawings by the artist are comparatively rare.
Red ink and wash drawings highlighted with white are distinctive of Caula’s graphic production. A comparable sheet, Seated male figure wrapped in a heavy cloak, is, for example, in the Frits Lugt Collection in Paris (inv. 1981-T.35; see J. Byam Shaw, The Italian Drawings of the Frits Lugt Collection, Paris, 1983, I, no. 405, III, pls. 456 and 457). Byam Shaw also mentions five other drawings by the artist executed in this technique, originally in the collection of Benno Geiger (Sotheby's, London, 7-10 December 1920, lots 74 and 75; Benno Geiger, Handzeichnungen Alter Meister, Vienna, 1946, pls. 58-91). One of these is now in the British Museum (inv. 1920-12-20-1).
These studies, powerful in their bright colors, energetic style, and large format, were most likely created as autonomous works of art.
Red ink and wash drawings highlighted with white are distinctive of Caula’s graphic production. A comparable sheet, Seated male figure wrapped in a heavy cloak, is, for example, in the Frits Lugt Collection in Paris (inv. 1981-T.35; see J. Byam Shaw, The Italian Drawings of the Frits Lugt Collection, Paris, 1983, I, no. 405, III, pls. 456 and 457). Byam Shaw also mentions five other drawings by the artist executed in this technique, originally in the collection of Benno Geiger (Sotheby's, London, 7-10 December 1920, lots 74 and 75; Benno Geiger, Handzeichnungen Alter Meister, Vienna, 1946, pls. 58-91). One of these is now in the British Museum (inv. 1920-12-20-1).
These studies, powerful in their bright colors, energetic style, and large format, were most likely created as autonomous works of art.