European Drawings 2: Catalogue of the Collections

GUIDO REÑÍ

1575-164 2

41 Virgin and Chüd

r

Turbaned Woman

v

(Recto) black, red, and white chalk; (verso) black and red
chalk; H: 28.5 cm (11.3 in.); W: 13.9 cm (5^7 /ioin.), irreg-
ular shape
89.03.4 3

MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: (Recto) at bottom right,
unidentified collection mark PM; (verso) inscribed F.
Torre, 599 in black chalk.

PROVENANCE: Private collection, New York; art mar-
ket, London.

EXHIBITIONS: Guido Reni und Europa: Ruhm una Nach-
ruhm, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, 1988, no. B 64 (cat-
alogue entry by V. Birke).

BIBLIOGRAPHY: D. S. Pepper, Guido Reni (New York,
1984), p. 292, under no. 214; idem, Guido Reni: L'opéra
completa (Novara, 1988), p. 304, under no. 208 ; idem,
"Review of Guido Reni und Europa: Ruhm und Nach-
ruhm," Master Drawings 27, no. 3 (Autumn 1989), p. 235.

THIS SHEET CAME TO LIGHT RECENTLY WHEN IT WAS

published by Pepper (1984), who identified the recto as a

study for Reni s painting Holy Family Adored by Saints

Elizabeth and John the Baptist of circa 1640-42 (New

York, private collection; ibid., no. 214). There are hardly

any changes in the painting; even a few of the accents in

the drawing recur. In the painting a minor adjustment of

proportions resulted in a thinner, more refined rendering

of the Virgin s face and a corresponding subtle diminu-

tion of naturalism.

The technique of the drawing is notable, with

sharp, rather scratchy strokes and a somewhat irregular

use of red chalk in the Virgin's face, the center of the

group, and her foot. The verso, sketched in summarily,

suggests the kind of turbaned figure Reni might have

employed to represent a sibyl (ibid.).

verso

IO 8 ITALIAN SCHOOL • RENI