(Chur 1741–1807 Rome)
Double-page study: The Holy Family with infant John the Baptist, oil sketch on laid paper (recto), pen and brown ink over graphite (verso), both covered with brownish varnish, 26,6 x 17 cm, the margins surrounded with thin cardboard mount, the upper corner repaired, framed, (Sch)

Provenance:
Collection Giancarlo Sestieri, Rome.

Exhibited:
Lumezzane Pieve, Torre Avogadro, Disegni italiani dal XV al XX secolo. Mostra antologica da collezioni private, 31st March – 22nd April 2001.

Literature:
G. Sestieri (Ed.), Disegni italiani dal XV al XX secolo. Mostra antologica da collezioni private, Exh.Cat. Lumezzane Pieve 2001, Cat. 45, Pl. 13; G. Sestieri, Repertorio della Pittura Romana della fine del Seicento e del Settecento, Torino 1994, Vol. II, fig. 553.

The present study is one of only few religious depictions by Angelika Kauffmann who mainly devoted her work to portraits, mythological motifs and themes of Greek mythology. The artist used to prepare a work by way of a design in pen and brown ink on transparent paper which she then transferred to an oil sketch for the painting. The depiction may have been intended for an altar painting in the Cappella Colleoni in Bergamo, which Kaufmann executed for Bartolomeo Colleoni in 1789.

We are grateful to Dr. Bettina Baumgärtel for the confirmation of the attribution and the scientific support.