The Conversion of Saul

Details

Niccolò Circignani, Il Pomarancio (Pomarancio 1517-after 1596)
The Conversion of Saul
with inscription 'Pomerancio' (verso, only visible through the old mount)
red chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash
10¼ x 6 1/8 in. (26.1 x 15.4 cm)

Provenance

John Thane, London (1748-1818) (L. 1544).
Sir Thomas Lawrence, London (1769-1830) (L. 2445).
M.H. Bloxam, by whom given to Rugby School Art Museum; with his inscription 'e dono Matt H Bloxam Rugby School Art Museum and attribution '1516-1588 Pomerance [in another hand?]1552-1626' [the latter dates crossed out]' (on the mount) and 'Niccolo Circignani dit Dalle Pomerance 1516-1588' (on the verso of the old mount).

Literature

Anne Popham, typescript catalogue, no. 40, as possibly Nicolo Circignano.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Brought to you by

Phoebe Tronzo

ptronzo@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3234

Lot Essay

As attested by the few sheets securely connected to his frescoes, Niccolò Circignani's drawing style in pen is rather dry, focused mainly on the outline of the figures, as shown in this drawing. The work can be tentatively connected here to a fresco of the subject in the chapel of Saint Paul in the Duomo of Città di Castello, similarly developed in a narrow vertical format. Circignani completed the fresco circa 1570, before moving to Rome.

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