Baldassarre Franceschini, il Volterrano (Volterra 1611-1690 Florence)

Christ with the Cross receiving Saint Lucy into glory, God the Father above

Details

Baldassarre Franceschini, il Volterrano (Volterra 1611-1690 Florence)
Christ with the Cross receiving Saint Lucy into glory, God the Father above
inscribed (partially trimmed) 'Fortezza/ Carità/ Verginità/ Fede' and with inscription '104'
red chalk, watermark bird in circle (close to Heawood 161, Rome 1646)
8 x 10 3/8 in. (20.3 x 26.5 cm.)

Provenance

The pencil numbering probably indicates that the drawing came from an album of mostly 17th Century Florentine drawings dispersed by Hans Calmann in the later 1960s.

Literature

A. Grassi, R. Spinelli and M.C. Fabbri, Volterrano: Baldassarre Franceschini (1611-1690), Florence, 2013, no. 33, ill.

Exhibited

Edinburgh, Scottish Arts Council, Merchants' Hall, Italian 17th Century Drawings from British Private Collections, 1972, no. 50, ill.

Lot Essay

A study for the ceiling fresco in the Colloredo chapel in the church of the Santissima Annunziata, Florence (A. Grassi et al., op. cit., p. 52). According to Baldinucci, the chapel was commissioned by the heirs of the Marquese Fabrizio Coloreto and Volterrano started working on the decoration after 1650 (F. Baldinucci, Notizie de'professori del disegno da Cimabue in qua, Florence, 1681-1728, ed. 1845-7, V, 1847, p. 162). The artist was responsible for a large number of decorations in the Santissima Annunziata which were executed over a period of more than twenty years. A number of studies for these commissions were offered at Sotheby's, London, Drawings by Baldassarre Franceschini, 3 July 1980, lots 16, 37, 41, 43 and 46.

More from Old Master & British Drawings & Watercolours

View All