FRANCESCO PRIMATICCIO
1504-157 0
37 Centaur and Lapith
Red chalk; H: 21. 8 cm (8^9 /is in.); W: 27.8 cm (lo'Vio in.)
89.GB.66
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: At bottom left, collection
mark of N. Dhikeos; inscribed with color notes in
brown ink by the artist.
PROVENANCE: N. Dhikeos, Lyons; art market, New
York.
EXHIBITIONS: None.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: None.THIS PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN DRAWING MOST LIKELY
represents part of a larger composition that probably de-
picted an episode in the story of the Centaurs and Lapith
women. The sheet contains color notes, thus indicating
that it was made as a study for a painting or for costume
designs for a festival. The ornamental character of the
scene, relatively static nature of the moment, and pres-
ence of the standing female figure may support the latter
possibility, first suggested by K. Pask. She noted that
elaborately decorated helmets of the kind worn by the
Centaur occur in several of the costume designs by Pri-
maticcio in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm (inv. 865/
1863, 848/1863, 856/1863). The style of the drawing
would support a date in the 15505, at the time of the Salle
de Bal at Fontainebleau.100 ITALIAN SCHOOL • PRIMATICCIO