BAG 1C CIO (Giovanni Battista Gaulli)
1639-170 9
3 Adoration of the Shepherds
Pen and brown ink, brown wash, white gouache height-
ening, and black chalk; H: 27. 1 cm (lo^11 /^ in.); W: 21. 3
cm(8^3 /8in.)
87.00.1 9
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: None.
PROVENANCE: Sale, Christie's, London, July 2, 1985, lot
68; art market, London.EXHIBITIONS: None.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: None.THIS DRAWING WAS MADE BY BACICCIO AS A PREPA-
ratory study for his painting of the Adoration of the
Shepherds in Santa Maria del Carmine, Fermo, executed
circa 1672. There is another drawing that may be related
to the same altarpiece (Diisseldorf, Kunstmuseum inv.
FP 1877). The latter shows the Virgin slightly to the left
of the center of the composition, with Joseph at the left
side. In the Getty drawing she has been moved farther to
the left, and Joseph has been placed at the right. In addi-
tion the angels above them hold a censer that is absent in
the earlier study. Finally, in the painting the Virgin is at
the right with Joseph at the center, and the bold figure of
a shepherd kneeling at the center with his back to the
viewer is situated at the left. Throughout the evolution
of the composition, Baciccio was primarily interested in
powerful effects of light, indicating in this respect as in
others his careful study of Correggio's Nativity (Dres-
den, Gemaldegalerie). The draughtsmanship in the
Getty drawing is characteristic of this period of his ca-
reer, exhibiting an exuberant, free line and broad effects
of wash creating bold shadows.24 ITALIAN SCHOOL • BACICCIO