작품 상세

Black chalk, on thick laid paper Bears old pen and brown ink attribution verso : Franc. Solimena, d.1747. A 90. 25.5 x 19 cm. (10 x 7 1/2 in) Provenance: Private collection, UK Literature: cf. Bologna, Ferdinando, Francesco Solimena, 1957 cf. Bologna, Ferdinando, Solimena nel Palazzo Reale di Napoli per le nozze di Carlo di Borbone, in "Prospettiva", 1979, 16, pp. 53-67 . The composition of the present drawing relates to several known paintings by Francesco Solimena, including an oil sketch that was sold in Sotheby's Milan in 2011 (Dipinti Antichi, 14th June 2011, lot 51). The recumbent figure also appears as a type that Solimena employed in a number of commissions, including his Caduta di Simon Mago , S. Paolo Maggiore, Naples, and S. Michele Arcangelo , Salerno, Church of St. George. While the drawing has is closely related to these works, it does have several differences in its composition, specifically the inclusion of Saint Michael's helmet and armour. While this inclusion is not apparent in the Sotheby's painting, it was not unusual for Solimena when representing this subject, as his S. Michele Arcangelo , Rome (private collection) illustrates. The execution of the drawing, and the distinctive cross-hatching employed, would appear to be very close to several known drawings by Solimena, including his The Death of St Joseph , held in the British Museum, London (no. 1946,0713.909), and the Design for a silver bust of S. Francesco di Paola , previously part of The Ralph Holland Collection (sold at Sotheby's, London, Galleria Portatile' - The Ralph Holland Collection, 5th July 2013, lot 315). We are grateful to Ferdinando Bologna for confirming the attribution to Francesco Solimena on the basis of a photograph (private correspondence, June 2015).