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Madonna of the Rosary

Maker

(artist)
1627-1685

Formerly attributed to
Spain (Granada), 17th century (artist)
1600-1699

Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1601-1667

Title

Date of Production

1600 - 1699

Medium

pen and brown ink, brown wash, on laid paper, with brown ink framing lines, laid down on an eighteenth-century architectural drawing in graphite, pen and grey ink and grey wash

Dimensions

Height: 26.9 cm
Width: 16.6 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.2405

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 Madonna of the Rosary was a popular subject in seventeenth-century Spain due to the widespread devotion of the Virgin, who was addressed in the series of prayers making up the Rosary. Standing on the crescent moon and holding the Christ Child, Mary is glorified as the Queen of Heaven. Both figures graciously present rosaries to the viewer. The fluently executed sheet may have been made for private devotion or may record a painting to be seen from below, as both Virgin and child gaze downwards.

Provenance

William Bateson, London (1861-1926), L.2604a; his sale, Sotheby’s (London), 23-24 April 1929, lot 248 (as by Cano); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

The Spanish Line - From Ribera to Picasso, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 13/10/2011-15/01/2012

Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London; York City Art Gallery; Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953

Literature

Véliz, Zahira, Spanish Drawings in the Courtauld Gallery: complete catalogue, London, 2011
no. 42
ill. on p. 149

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. 107

Wethey, Harold E., 'Alonso Cano's drawings' in 'The Art Bulletin', 1952 - pp. 217-38; XXXIV, 3
p. 233
under 'Copies and wrong attributions' as by a follower of Pedro de Mena

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: lower right, light brown ink: “2R” [Reales]; left lower edge, brown ink, cut off: “[...]lonso cano”. Verso (hidden under backing sheet, visible via transmitted light): upper left, brown ink: “No 181”. Verso (backing sheet): right centre edge, graphite: “Lonso cano”; lower left, graphite, Witt number: “2405”. Mount (removed and now mounted separately with the drawing), Recto: centre and again at lower left corner, graphite, Witt number: “2405”; lower right, black ink: “Alonso Cano”; lower right corner, graphite: “Coll. W. Bateson”.

Collector's mark: Verso (backing sheet): right centre edge, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b); right centre edge, stamped in black ink: William Bateson (L.2604a).

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