View full screen - View 1 of Lot 46. Recto: The Death of Hector Verso: Two Battling Figures with Shields and Swords.
46

Carlo Alberto Baratta

Recto: The Death of Hector Verso: Two Battling Figures with Shields and Swords

45

46

47

Carlo Alberto Baratta

Carlo Alberto Baratta

Recto: The Death of Hector Verso: Two Battling Figures with Shields and Swords

Recto: The Death of Hector Verso: Two Battling Figures with Shields and Swords

Carlo Alberto Baratta

Genoa 1754 - 1815

Recto: The Death of Hector

Verso: Two Battling Figures with Shields and Swords


Point of the brush and black wash heightened with white on dark blue-green paper (recto); black chalk (verso)

231 by 298 mm

Hinge mounted to a modern mount. There are old repairs and areas where the sheet has been made up to the upper left and right corners, lower right corner and the centre and left centre of the lower edge. There is a small vertical crease to the right centre of the lower edge. With the exception of some minor areas of abrasion the drawing itself remains in predominantly good condition with the media fresh and the image strong. Sold unframed.


"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."

With Colnaghi, New York and London, An Exhibition of Master Drawings, June-July 2000, cat. no. 32,
where acquired by Dr. John O'Brien (L.4230),
his sale, New York, Sotheby's, From Taddeo to Tiepolo: The Dr. John O'Brien Collection of Old Master Drawings, 27 January 2021, lot 266;
sale, London, Sotheby's, A Fine Line:  Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries, 7 July 2021, lot 46
M. Newcome Schleier and G. Grasso, Giovanni David, Pittore e incisore della famiglia Durazzo, Turin 2003, p. 11, reproduced fig. S5 (as Carlo Alberto Baratta, The Death of Germanicus (?))
This dramatic baroque drawing, depicting the Death of Hector, is by the Genoese artist, Carlo Alberto Baratta. Baratta was a fresco painter and stage designer as well as a prolific draughtsman and engraver.  His style is extremely reminiscent of his fellow Genoese painter, Giovanni David (1743-1790), whose work had an enormous influence on the slightly younger Baratta.  Mary Newcome Schleier remarks on the similarities between the artists, who both treated their subjects with a certain sensitivity, creating charismatic figures and compositions with vivid and strong effects of colour.