Lot 171
  • 171

Jacopo Palma, called Palma Giovane

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Jacopo Palma, called Palma Giovane
  • Christ on the road to Calvary
  • oil on canvas
  • 76 x 59 1/2 inches

Provenance

Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 27 January 2006, lot 282.

Condition

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This work has not been restored for many years and certainly would benefit from careful attention. The paint layer seems to be slightly unstable, and the old lining should perhaps be reversed. There are additions on the left and right edges of about 3-4 inches, an addition across the top of about 5 inches, and one across the bottom edge of about 2 inches. It is likely that these additions are not original, and that the work has been extended on all four sides. These additions do not seem to be necessary, and if they were removed, the work would have a more concise scale. There is also an original horizontal join in the canvas running through the ankle in the lower right and above the ankle in the lower left. The painting is noticeably dirty. Many of the restorations are quite obvious to the naked eye. It does not seem that the damages interfere with any of the faces of the figures. In the figures, it is only the right arm of Christ and the left arm of the standing figure on the right side that have received any significant restoration. If the work were returned to its original dimensions, cleaned to remove all of the old heavy handed retouches and carefully retouched, it would greatly improve. The actual condition of the work is much better than it appears at present.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Catalogue Note

Palma Giovane's Christ on the Road to Calvary relates to two paintings of the same subject both dating to circa 1601, one in the church of San Barnaba, Venice, and the other in the oratorio of Santissima Trinità, Chioggia, Venice.1  The present composition likely dates to the same moment and comprises elements of both those paintings, including the twisting figure with his back to the viewer at left in the Santissima Trinità ceiling and the bearded figure carrying the base of the cross in the San Barnaba canvas.

We are grateful to Prof.essa Stefania Mason for endorsing the attribution on the basis of photographs.

1. S. Mason Rinaldi, Palma il Giovane, L'opera completa, Milan 1984, p. 119, cat. no 354, reproduced p. 331, fig. 356 and p. 80, cat. no., 63, reproduced p. 329, fig. 350.