Circle of Ludovico Carracci (Bologna 1555-1619)

The torso of a male nude, seen from behind

Details

Circle of Ludovico Carracci (Bologna 1555-1619)
The torso of a male nude, seen from behind
black and white chalk, on faded blue paper, unframed
11½ x 7 3/8 in. (29.2 x 18.7 cm.); and three other drawings, including two figure studies from the Bolognese School and a male nude attributed to Francesco Monti (4)

Provenance

A. Maggiori (L. 3005b), his attribution 'L. Carracci fece' (recto) and his inscription 'Io Aless.o Maggiori. comprai in Bologna il giorno 3 di Set.e del 1792 Studio per uno dei Termi: nei dipinti da L. Car. nel chios= tro di S. Mi: chele in bosco di Bologna' (verso).
C. Argentieri (L. 486b).
P.G. Breschi (L. 2079b).

Lot Essay

Maggiori's inscription refers to the church of S. Michele in Bosco, Bologna, whose unusual octagonal cloister (1602-3) was designed by the architect Pietro Fiorini and frescoed by Ludovico Carracci and his studio. The series of frescoes, representing Stories from the Life of Saint Benedict (1602-5), was one of Ludovico's most prestigious commissions in Bologna.

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