Lot Essay
This drawing is dated by Dr. Babette Bohn to circa 1611-2, although she adds that the drawing 'is reminiscent of Ludovico's freely washed works of the early 1590s', op. cit., p. 222. Characteristic of this period are the facial types, the draperies and 'the compression of the figures into a small area'. The drawing was respectively dated by Rudolf Wittkower and Sir Denis Mahon to circa 1600-10 and circa 1610.
The composition is close to that of a print by Francesco Brizio engraved after a drawing by Ludovico, Toronto, loc. cit., p. 66.
The shape in which the present drawing is inscribed leads David McTavish to think that it was originally drawn for a specific commission and possibly for a fresco.
The composition is close to that of a print by Francesco Brizio engraved after a drawing by Ludovico, Toronto, loc. cit., p. 66.
The shape in which the present drawing is inscribed leads David McTavish to think that it was originally drawn for a specific commission and possibly for a fresco.