GAETANO GANDOLFI | Mercury and Argus

Roberto Franchi, Bologna

M.C. Casali Pedrielli, Di bella mano. Disegni antichi della raccolta Franchi, exhib. cat., Bologna, Musei Civici d'Arte Antica, 1998, pp. 138-141, no. 66, p. 140, reproduced fig. 66

R. Roli, 'Un nucleo di disegni dei Gandolfi', Prospettiva, (33-36), 1983-1984, p. 298, reproduced fig. 8;
D. Biagi Maino, 'Gaetano Gandolfi e il suo copista. Disegni della Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna', Ricerche di Storia dell'Arte, (52), 1994, p. 79

The sheet has been sensitively restored in the past.There are extensive losses dew to silver fish on the margins of the drawing and a large one also on top of the two figures near the tree, which have been repaired and made up. There are also smaller losses scattered. There is a small tear and tiny loss at the bottom margin to the left. The paper is slightly buckled. As the media is strong the condition is not very 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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Gaetano is a confident and assured draftsman, and his virtuoso and pictorial use of different media is testimony to his talent: pen and ink and wash, red chalk, and black chalk often combined with stumping as in the present sheet.  The subjects of Gaetano late drawings are often derived from Greek and Roman history as well as mythology.  As we can see here these sheets are often executed in an highly finished style, although they are not necessarily independent works from Gaetano's late Neoclassical period.  When this sheet was exhibited in Bologna, in 1998, as part of a group of four drawings in the Franchi collection, all signed and dated 1800, Pedrielli suggested that they could have been done for the decoration of an interior, and he related The Rape of Dejanira and Venus discovering the body of Adonis with two paintings by Gaetano, in private collections (see Exhibited).¹ 
Until now the present study seems not to be preparatory for any known painted work by the artist, and it was executed two years before Gaetano's sudden death when playing 'bocce' (bowls) in the church field of San Emidio, in Bologna.   ^1. The group was previously published by Roli who was not aware of the connection with the paintings mentioned above (see Literature)