- 279
Bartolomeo Cesi
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
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Description
- Bartolomeo Cesi
- Recto: study of a kneeling monk and of his headVerso: study of a kneeling monk
- Red chalk, heightened with white chalk (recto and verso), on blue paper;
bears old attribution in pen and brown ink, verso: del Cesi
Provenance
Alessandro Maggiori (L.3005b, with his inscription, mostly obscured, on the verso: Ales. Maggiori compro / a Bologna l'anno 1792,...);
Ludwig Pollak (L.788b);
sale, London, Christie's, 30 September 1975, lot 104, purchased by Ralph Holland
Ludwig Pollak (L.788b);
sale, London, Christie's, 30 September 1975, lot 104, purchased by Ralph Holland
Exhibited
Newcastle, 1982, no. 30
Condition
Stain on knee and sleeve of figure on recto (also visible on drapery of figure on verso). In bottom right corner, three small blue patches applied to cover holes where ink of Maggiori inscription has eaten through. Two small repairs in same fashion at top of right edge. What appears to be a round hole at top center is in fact a circle of white. Some faint foxing throughout but hardly noticeable.
"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."
"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
These studies are for the figure of St. Pietro Tommaso in Cesi's altarpiece of the Crucifixion with St. Andrew, St. Bartholomew and St. Pietro Tommaso which was commissioned by Filippo Zini in 1584 for his family chapel in S. Martino, Bologna and is recorded as being on the altar by 12 May 1585. As Di Giampaolo comments, (loc. cit.), the work shows the influence of Roman artists such as Muziano and Venusti. The figure in the painting corresponds more closely to the study on the recto, although the position of the Saint's right hand is more like that on the verso.
A study for the whole composition, with significant differences, is at Windsor.1
St. Pietro Tommaso (1305-66) was born in France and joined the Carmelite Order. He played a major role in church affairs, at Avignon during the schism, and later in Constantinople and the eastern Mediterranean. He founded the Faculty of Theology at Bologna University, which is perhaps why he was included in this altarpiece.
1. A. Graziani, F. Abbate and M. Di Giampaolo, Bartolomeo Cesi, Milan 1988, p. 164, reproduced fig. 5 and the altarpiece fig. 6