Galleria Portatile - Ralph Holland Coll.

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Lot 403
  • 403

Federico Zuccaro

Estimate
3,000 - 4,000 GBP
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Description

  • Federico Zuccaro
  • Recto: early designs for the ceiling in the Sala d'Ercole, Palazzo Farnese, CaprarolaVerso: designs for two lunettes and Hercules
  • Pen and brown ink (recto);
    pen and brown ink and wash (verso);
    bears inscription in pen and brown ink, recto: Disegno B. Campi en Venezia / 1616 questo...AntoA....

Provenance

Sale, London, Christie's, 4 July 1995, lot 155, purchased by Ralph Holland

Condition

Window mounted. Extensive losses with many areas made up. Small holes scattered throughout. Wash on verso visible on recto. There is a purple wash and a line of red chalk on the recto that may have been added later. Pen and ink remains relatively strong.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This fascinating sheet contains early designs for the ceiling of the Sala d'Ercole at Caprarola (fig. 1).1  Federico worked on the ceiling from 1566-69 but never completed the project, owing to a disagreement with his patron, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who later employed Jacopo Bertoia to finish the work.

Federico Zuccaro was only able to complete the large central composition, Hercules Swimming in the Lago di Vico and one of the surrounding compositions, Hercules plunges his Staff into the Earth.2  The present sheet of studies, recto, shows Federico working on the layout for the ceiling with separate studies for Hercules plunging his staff into the ground.  Two other sketches here are preliminary ideas for Hercules pulling his Staff from the ground, the composition which was later realised by Bertoia.  On the verso is another drawing for the figure of Hercules and two other lunette designs.

James Mundy confirmed the attribution to Federico Zuccaro at the time of the Christie's sale in 1995.

1.  D. DeGrazia, Bertoia, Mirola and the Farnese Court, Bologna 1991, fig. 76
2.  Ibid., fig. 77