FRANCESCO DE' ROSSI, CALLED FRANCESCO SALVIATI | Christ carrying the Cross

Salvatore e Francesco Romano, Palazzo Magnani Feroni, Florence;
Their sale, Florence, Sotheby's, 14 October 2009, lot 1075, for €100,000 (as Florentine School, 16th century);
Where acquired by the present owner.

P. Costamagna in C. Falciani and A. Natali (eds), Bronzino, Artist and Poet at the Court of the Medici, exh. cat, Florence, 2010, p. 314, under cat. no. VI.10 (as Salviati). 

The thick, uncradled panel is slightly bowed. The paint surface is slightly dirty, and the varnish slightly discoloured. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals small, sensitively executed retouchings throughout the left-hand side of Christ's face, including to a fine, horizontal scratch beside his eyebrow 5 cm. long, as well as throughout his shoulder, hand and cuff. There are some small strengthenings to the ends of his hair just left of centre on the lower margin, in his beard, in the dark contours of the crown of thorns, and at the edge of his hairline. There are only a handful of small interventions in the upper half of the painting: in the centre of the upper margin and the top of Christ's head. In overall fair condition.
"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."

As Costamagna notes (see Literature), this painting is a reduced second version of Salviati's prototype (panel, 66 x 45 cm.) in the Uffizi, Florence, from 1547–48.¹ The scholar suggests this second version may have been painted after Salviati returned to Rome, focusing on the spiritual pathos of Christ's head and omitting the elegant refinement and highlights of the prototype, in keeping with the more restrained aesthetic ideas prevalent in the capital at the time. A copy after the Uffizi first version, previously given to Giorgio Vasari, is in the Galleria Corsini in Rome.² 1 Inv. no. 1862; L. Mortari, Francesco Salviati, Rome 1992, p. 114, cat. no. 20, reproduced.
2 Mortari 1992, p. 137, cat. no. 80, reproduced.