Surrounded with an eighteenth-century so-called ‘Gennari mount’, this is one of a number of Courtauld drawings known to have come from Guercino’s own studio. It depicts the moment when a seraph-like figure, with hands outstretched in the shape of a cross, appears in a vision to Saint Francis who finds the marks of Christ’s wounds appearing on this hands, feet and body. The spontaneity of line and robust brown wash serve to intensify the drama.

by descent to the artist's nephews, Benedetto Gennari (1633-1715) and Cesare Gennari (1637-1688), 1666; by descent to Cesare’s sons, Gianfrancesco Gennari (1671-1727) and Filippo Antonio Gennari (1677-1751), 1719; by descent to Gianfrancesco's son, Carlo Gennari (1716-1790); presumably Francesco Forni, Bologna (18th century) or Abbé Bonducci, Florence (18th century); presumably acquired from either of those by John Bouverie, England (ca. 1722/1723-1750), 1741 or 1745; by descent to his sister, Anne Hervey (d. 1757); by descent to her son, Christopher Hervey (d. 1786); by descent to his aunt, Elizabeth Bouverie (d. 1798); by descent to Sir Charles Middleton, later 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813); by descent to his son-in-law, Sir Gerard Noel, 2nd Baron Barham (1759-1838); by descent to his son, Charles Noel, later 1st Earl of Gainsborough (1781-1866); by descent to Charles Noel, 3rd Earl of Gainsborough (1850-1926); his sale, Christie's (London), 27 July 1922, part of lot 81 (a box containing 68 drawings by Guercino and others); purchased there by F.R. Meatyard (London) on behalf of Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (£90 for the lot); Witt Bequest 1952

Guercino - Mind to Paper, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 22/02/2007-13/05/2007

Guercino - Mind to Paper, J Paul Getty Museum & Los Angeles & California & USA, 24/10/2006-21/01/2007

Drawings by Guercino from British Collections, British Museum, London, 1991 ...More

Guercino: il 'San Francesco' ritrovato, Palazzo dei Vescovi, Novara; Museo d'Arte Sacra di San Giovanni in Persiceto, 2006-2007
p. 30
Illus. on p. 31, fig. 14

Guercino: Mind to paper, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Courtauld Gallery, London, 2006-2007 Los Angeles, 2006
no. 29
Illus. on p. 85

Turner, Nicholas et al., 'St Francis Kneeling in a Landscape Contemplating a Crucifix' in 'The Katalan Collection of Italian Drawings', Poughkeepsie, New York, 1995
p. 98 ...More

Watermark: Watermark: none in the drawing sheet. 'Casa Gennari' mount, Verso, left of centre: letter “P” above a circle containing horse? in profile (same watermark in 'Casa Gennari' mount with D.1952.RW.1374. No exact match found, but Heawood 2795-2797 are horses in circles with letter “P” above – Naples 1751-52).

Inscription: 31

Collector's mark: collector's mark of Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b)