Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence
Maker
(artist)
1527-1585
1527-1585
Title
Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence
Medium
red chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash on laid paper
Dimensions
Height: 24.4 cm
Width: 35.3 cm
Width: 35.3 cm
Accession Number
D.1952.RW.14
Mode of Acquisition
Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
The variety and inventiveness of drawing in Italy in the mid to late sixteenth century is illustrated by Genoese Cambiaso's eccentric, cube-like simplifications of forms in this compositional study for a painting. Saint Lawrence is shown being roasted on a gridiron after causing offence to the Prefect of Rome for distributing church treasures to the poor and sick. The saint's raised arms and the angular figures of his torturers, bending and gesticulating, add to the drama.
Provenance
probably Alfred Sensier (1815-1877), L.3105; his sale, unknown date and location, lot 336; London, Sotheby's, 1 August 1928, lot 13; purchased there by Frank T. Sabin (London); Sotheby's (London), 21 November 1934, lot 16; purchased there by R.E.A. WIlson (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), 1935 (£6); Witt Bequest 1952
Exhibition History
Die Geometrie der figur. Luca Cambiaso und die Folgen, Felix Nussbaumhaus/Osnabruck Museum of Cultural History, Osnabruck, 28/01/2007-22/04/2007
The Witt Collection - Four centuries of drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/04/2004-20/06/2004
Italian Old Master drawings. Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, The National Art Gallery of New Zealand, Wellington, 1970 ...More
Between Renaissance and Baroque: European Art 1520-1600, Manchester City Art Gallery, 1965
A Selection of Drawings from The Witt/Courtauld Collections, University of Sussex, Falmer, 1964
Old Master Drawings from the Witt Collection, Auckland City Art Gallery, 01/09/1960-01/10/1960
Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1958-59
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London; York City Art Gallery; Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953 ...Less
The Witt Collection - Four centuries of drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/04/2004-20/06/2004
Italian Old Master drawings. Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, The National Art Gallery of New Zealand, Wellington, 1970 ...More
Between Renaissance and Baroque: European Art 1520-1600, Manchester City Art Gallery, 1965
A Selection of Drawings from The Witt/Courtauld Collections, University of Sussex, Falmer, 1964
Old Master Drawings from the Witt Collection, Auckland City Art Gallery, 01/09/1960-01/10/1960
Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1958-59
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London; York City Art Gallery; Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953 ...Less
Literature
Geometrie der Figur: Luca Cambiaso und die moderne Kunst, Kulturgeschichtliches Museum, Osnabruck, 2007
p. 112
illus. 113
Italian Old Master drawings. Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, The National Art Gallery of New Zealand, Wellington, 1970
cat. no. 15
illus. p. 14
G.L. Conran, Between Renaissance and Baroque: European Art 1520-1600, Manchester City Art Gallery, 1965
cat. no. 289 ...More
Old Master Drawings from the Witt Collection, Auckland City Art Gallery, 1960
cat. no. 20
Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1958 - 1959
cat. no. 26
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London, York City Art Gallery and Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
cat. no. 46 ...Less
p. 112
illus. 113
Italian Old Master drawings. Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, The National Art Gallery of New Zealand, Wellington, 1970
cat. no. 15
illus. p. 14
G.L. Conran, Between Renaissance and Baroque: European Art 1520-1600, Manchester City Art Gallery, 1965
cat. no. 289 ...More
Old Master Drawings from the Witt Collection, Auckland City Art Gallery, 1960
cat. no. 20
Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1958 - 1959
cat. no. 26
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London, York City Art Gallery and Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
cat. no. 46 ...Less
Inscriptions
Inscription: Recto: upper left corner, brown ink: "18."
Collector's mark: Recto: lower right and again verso, lower centre, stamped in ink (blue): unidentified collector's mark (L.3105) [probably belongs to Alfred Sensier - in communication with Lugt regarding this in October 2016 and January 2018].
Inscription: Verso: centre, red chalk and 'x-d' over in pen and dark brown ink: 192.
Inscription: Verso: lower left, graphite: Sensier Sale / (No 336) .
Inscription: Verso: lower right, graphite, last letters unclear: Cangiage 2229 CE [?].
Inscription: Verso: lower left, graphite, underlined: £ 922.
Inscription: Verso: lower left, graphite, circled: 5.
Inscription: Verso: lower centre, graphite: Cambiaso / The Martyrdom of St Lawrence / from the Sensier coll. .
Inscription: Verso: lower right, graphite, hard to read: mvi [?].
Inscription: Verso: right centre edge, brown ink: X.
Watermark: none.
Collector's mark: Recto: lower right and again verso, lower centre, stamped in ink (blue): unidentified collector's mark (L.3105) [probably belongs to Alfred Sensier - in communication with Lugt regarding this in October 2016 and January 2018].
Inscription: Verso: centre, red chalk and 'x-d' over in pen and dark brown ink: 192.
Inscription: Verso: lower left, graphite: Sensier Sale / (No 336) .
Inscription: Verso: lower right, graphite, last letters unclear: Cangiage 2229 CE [?].
Inscription: Verso: lower left, graphite, underlined: £ 922.
Inscription: Verso: lower left, graphite, circled: 5.
Inscription: Verso: lower centre, graphite: Cambiaso / The Martyrdom of St Lawrence / from the Sensier coll. .
Inscription: Verso: lower right, graphite, hard to read: mvi [?].
Inscription: Verso: right centre edge, brown ink: X.
Watermark: none.
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