(1628-1719), The Apotheosis of Hercules, after the ceiling frescoes in the Palazzo Pepoli, Bolgona, pen and blackish brown ink, brown wash, on laid paper, 36,5 x 28 cm, mounted, glazed, unframed, (Sch)

Provenance:
private collection, France.

Literature:
Comp. Jadranka Bentini, Angelo Mazza(Ed.), Disegni emiliani del sei-settecento - I grandi cicli di affreschi, Cinisello Balsmo 1990, pp. 128-146. The present drawing may be from the hand of a Bolognese artist in the circle of Carlo Cignani who was familiar with the ceiling frescoes by Domenico Maria Canuti in the Palazzo Pepoli in Bologna. Several preliminary drawings for the frescoes were published in the catalogue of Bentini/ Mazza 1990 (pp. 128-146). The drawings were executed in pen and brown ink and show Hercules in different postures and compositional settings; some of the studies may have been executed for a smaller ceiling fresco. In comparison with the present sheet the studies by Canuti are less detailed and are livelier and more spontanous. A design by Canuti which is kept in the Fondazione Cini in Venice (Ill. 20.4, p. 132) is best comparable, however, according to Dr. Sutherland Harris an attribution of the present sheet to Canuti can be excluded. According to Dr. Sutherland Harris our draftsman was familiar with the ceiling frescoes in the Palazzo Pepoli and tried to draft a variant of Canuti’s composition. The facial tyes are somewhat sweeter and remind one of drawings by Carlo Cignani who was a pupil of Canuti. Due to some weaknesses, however, the drawing should rather be attributed to Canuti’s circle. The sheet may have been done between 1665 and 1685 according to Mrs. Sutherland Harris.

We are grateful for her scientific support.