Probably painted for Conte Ippolito Lovatelli of Ravenna in 1709.1
This work is an autograph reduced replica of Franceschini’s painting formerly in Cardinal Albani’s collection in Rome and today in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
1 Apart from the difference in dimensions – the present painting is approximately two-thirds of the size of the Vienna canvas – the two works are identical in every respect. The Vienna painting has been dated to Franceschini’s mature years, that is to
circa 1705-10, and more specifically to 1709 - the year in which he painted a picture of this subject for Conte Ippolito Lovatelli of Ravenna. The commission is documented in Franceschini’s account books where it is noted that on 12 February the artist delivered a '
Magdalene'
to Matteo Conti (who received it on behalf of Lovatelli) and in the same instance Franceschini was asked to produce '
un’altra', for which he was paid on 18 July of the same year.
2 Until now the replica to which Franceschini’s
libro dei conti refers has been assumed to be identifiable with a painting on the New York art market in 1992, in which the Magdalen and
putto are shown in similar but not identical poses.
3 The numerous differences between that and the Vienna (or present) version would suggest, however, that it is a third autograph variant, painted by the artist on another occasion. It is far more reasonable to assume that if Ippolito Lovatelli had asked for another version he would have wanted it to be the same as the first, and thus it is likely that the present painting might indeed be that second version.
We are grateful to Dwight Miller for endorsing the attribution to Franceschini on the basis of photographs.
1. Inv. no. 225; oil on canvas, 119 by 96 cm.; D.C. Miller, Marcantonio Franceschini, Turin 2001, pp. 273-74, cat. no. 169, reproduced in color plate XLIII.
2. 'Adì 12 febb. ho dato il Sig.r Matteo Conti la Maddalena fatta per il Sig.r conte Ippolito Lovatelli di Ravenna, con in licenza del detto Sig.r promessa, di farne un’altra e ne ho ricevuto vinti Doppie di Spagna, concordate prima col sudetto che sono...335' ['On 12 February I gave Mr. Matteo Conti the Magdalene done for Mr. Conte Ippolito Lovatelli of Ravenna, holding my promise to the above, to do another one...']and again 'Adì 18 luglio, Dal Sig.r Conte Ippolito Lovatelli, per residuo della sua Maddalena, quattrocentodieci Luigi...231'; cited in Miller 2001, p. 274.
3. Anonymous sale, New York, Christie’s, 15 October 1992, lot 136 (oil on canvas; 124.5 x 95.3 cm.).
