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Lot Essay
This is a bozzetto for the picture recorded by Zanotti in 1703 as with the frairs of the Oratory of the S. Maria di Galliera in Bologna (now in the Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna, inv. 27; C. Baroncini, op. cit., no. 36, pl. 26). According to Zanotti it was painted for Conte Odoardo Pepoli after the artist finished the Marcus Coriolanus for Conte Annibale Ranuzzi at the end of 1672 (G.P. Zanotti, Nuovo fregio di gloria a Felsina sempre pittrice nella Vita di Lorenzo Pasinelli pitoor bolognese, Bologna, 1703, p. 32). As Angelo Mazza argues, the painting must already have been started by 1673, as Dal Sole based a drawing on it dated that year. Thus this bozzetto was painted in 1672 or 1673.
In her monograph on the artist, Dr. Carmela Baroncini (loc. cit., p. 346) points out that of the three known bozzetti for the picture, the present one is closest to the final work. The bozzetto prior to this one is a study of the swooning Cornelia and the woman sustaining her (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna, Inv. 6413; ibid., no. 83, fig. LXXXIII). A horizontal oil sketch with a similar compostion is considered by Baroncini to be the first one (ibid., no. 82, fig. LXXXII); however, its horizontal format and less consistent composition suggest that the artist painted it in preparation for another work, using the figures from the present picture.
The subject, which was particularly popular in Bologna at the time, is taken from Plutarch's Life of Pompey. The alliance between Caesar and Pompey broke down in 50 B.C. over Caesar's desire for the Consulship. This was refused by the Senate, with whom Pompey allied, causing Caesar famously to cross the Rubicon at the head of his army, precipitating civil war. Pompey was entrusted with the command by the Senate, but was outmanoeuvred and fled to Greece, leaving Caesar master of Italy. The next year, after a setback at Dyrrachium, Caesar crushed Pompey's army at Pharsalus. Plutarch relates that after this:
'Pompey, sailing by the city of Amphipolis, crossed over from thence to Mitylene, with a design to take in Cornelia [his wife] and his son; and as soon as he arrived at the port in that island, he despatched a messenger into the city with news very different from Cornelia's expectation. For she, by all the former messages and letters sent to please her, had been put in hopes that the war was ended at Dyrrhachium, and that there was nothing more remaining for Pompey but the pursuit of Caesar. The messenger, finding her in the same hopes still, was not able to salute or speak to her, but declaring the greatness of her misfortune by his tears rather than his words, desired her to make haste if she would see Pompey, with one ship only, and that not of his own. The young lady hearing this, fell down in a swoon, and continued a long time senseless and speechless.'
In her monograph on the artist, Dr. Carmela Baroncini (loc. cit., p. 346) points out that of the three known bozzetti for the picture, the present one is closest to the final work. The bozzetto prior to this one is a study of the swooning Cornelia and the woman sustaining her (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna, Inv. 6413; ibid., no. 83, fig. LXXXIII). A horizontal oil sketch with a similar compostion is considered by Baroncini to be the first one (ibid., no. 82, fig. LXXXII); however, its horizontal format and less consistent composition suggest that the artist painted it in preparation for another work, using the figures from the present picture.
The subject, which was particularly popular in Bologna at the time, is taken from Plutarch's Life of Pompey. The alliance between Caesar and Pompey broke down in 50 B.C. over Caesar's desire for the Consulship. This was refused by the Senate, with whom Pompey allied, causing Caesar famously to cross the Rubicon at the head of his army, precipitating civil war. Pompey was entrusted with the command by the Senate, but was outmanoeuvred and fled to Greece, leaving Caesar master of Italy. The next year, after a setback at Dyrrachium, Caesar crushed Pompey's army at Pharsalus. Plutarch relates that after this:
'Pompey, sailing by the city of Amphipolis, crossed over from thence to Mitylene, with a design to take in Cornelia [his wife] and his son; and as soon as he arrived at the port in that island, he despatched a messenger into the city with news very different from Cornelia's expectation. For she, by all the former messages and letters sent to please her, had been put in hopes that the war was ended at Dyrrhachium, and that there was nothing more remaining for Pompey but the pursuit of Caesar. The messenger, finding her in the same hopes still, was not able to salute or speak to her, but declaring the greatness of her misfortune by his tears rather than his words, desired her to make haste if she would see Pompey, with one ship only, and that not of his own. The young lady hearing this, fell down in a swoon, and continued a long time senseless and speechless.'