The Vision of Saint Jerome

Details

Follower of Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, il Parmigianino
The Vision of Saint Jerome
oil on copper
18½ x 14¼ in. (47.37.5 cm.)

Provenance

Welbore Ellis Agar (1735-1805), Commissioner of Customs, by whom bequethed as part of his colleciton to his two illegitimate sons Welbore Felix Agar and Emmanuel Felix Agar; Christie's, London, 3 May 1806 [=2nd day], lot 40, 'Vision de St. Jerome. St. Jean à genoux et montrant avec l'index la Sainte Vierge avec l'enfant Jesus debout, dansles nues plus loin à droit St. Jerome qui dort - Sujet que l'artiste a traité d'une force, et d'une grandeur étonnantes, et dans un ton de Couleur grave et majestiueux' (acquired before the sale [and before the English version of the catalogued was printed] en bloc with the whole Agar collection by William Seguier on behalf of Grosvenor). Robert, 2nd Earl Grosvenor, later 1st Marquess of Westminster (1767-1845), Eaton Hall, Cheshire; sale, Peter Coxe, London, 2 July 1812, lot 65, one of two with a Correggio, 'the study for the celebrated Picture known as the St. Jerome of Parma: it was most highly valued by its late possessor, the Honorable Welbore Ellis Agar, and was purchased with his whole Collection' (unsold at £21), and by descent to
Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess and 1st Duke of Westminster, K.G. (1825-1899)
A.R. Holland.

Exhibited

London, New Gallery, Exhibition of Early Italian Art, 1893-1894, no. 247.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis This lot is subject to Collection and Storage charges

Lot Essay

Based on the altarpiece in the National Gallery (NG33), which was painted by Parmigianino in 1527 in Rome after his arrival there from Parma in 1524. The present work was for long thought to be an early study for Parmigiano's work; painted by an (almost ?) comtemporary artist, it reveals instead the reaction of Parmigiano's contemporaries to his masterpiece.

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