European Drawings 2: Catalogue of the Collections

CESARE DA SESTO

1477-152 3

14 The Swooning Virgin

Supported by Three Holy

Women and Three Studies

ofMen

r

Saint George and the Dragon

v

Pen and brown ink and red chalk; H: 13.6 cm (5^3 /s in.);
W: 19 cm (7'Am.)
86.GA.I

MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: (Recto) at left edge, near
center, inscribed Spasimo in brown ink by the artist;
(verso) inscribed 23 in brown ink.

PROVENANCE: Sale, Christie's, London, December 13,
1984 , lot 27; art market, Boston.

EXHIBITIONS: None.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: None.

THIS SHEET IS IN MANY RESPECTS TIED TO THE ARTIST'S

now dismembered sketchbook in the Pierpont Morgan

Library, New York. It is the same size, is drawn with the

same sensitivity of line and refinement of shading, and

shows figures and groups inspired by Leonardo and Ra-

phael, as do many of the sketchbook's pages. It is possible

that the Museum's sheet once formed part of either the

Morgan sketchbook or another related one.

The recto shows a principal group strongly influ-

enced by Raphael in his late Florentine years, while the

male figures—especially the one at the right—reflect the

impact of Leonardo in their lively gestures and poses.

The verso also depends on the work of these two artists.

Raphael's painting Saint George and the Dragon (National

Gallery of Art) is very similar in composition and is also

reflected in studies of the same subject in the Morgan

sketchbook. Finally, a sheet by Leonardo (Windsor,

Royal Library inv. 12.331) suggests a possible further

source, especially in the rendering of the horse.

The Morgan sketchbook is datable to circa 1510-

14. Given the references to Raphael's Florentine period,

a date of circa 1510 would seem appropriate for the Mu-

seum's drawing.

48 ITALIAN SCHOOL • CESARE DA SESTO