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Flying angel

Maker

Giuseppe (Sansone) Marchesi (artist)
1699-1771

Title

Flying angel

Date of Production

(circa) 1737

Medium

chalk (black and white) with stumping on buff laid paper, laid down on an historic support

Dimensions

Height: 28.5 cm
Width: 34.8 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.4447

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

Without the lengthy inscription, it would have been difficult to identify the artist of this drawing as the little-known Marchesi, nicknamed ‘Sansone’ (Samson) for his unusually large physique. We likewise would have been ignorant of the drawing’s first owner, Marchesi’s own pupil, Simone Campagnoli, author of the inscription. His annotation also records that this is a preliminary study for an altarpiece in the Church of San Pietro, Bologna. That painting, Saint Ambrose Preventing the Emperor Theodosius from Entering the Church, remains in the church to this day.

Provenance

given by the artist to Simone Campagnoli; part of a two-volume album belonging to the Archbishop of Belluno (according to Ongania); after his death passed "to other hands" (according to Ongania); Ferdinando Ongania, Venice (1842-1911), by 4 May 1878 (his letter in the file for D.1978.PG.135); Count Wodinski (Polish, d.c. 1934 in Spain, according to Ritchie); by descent to his step-daughter's son, Jan R. Ritchie (as related to J. Byam Shaw, his letter in the file for D.1978.PG.135); purchased from him by Colnaghi (London), 2 May 1950 (they dismantled the album); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), 31 October 1950 (£8); Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Drawings Gallery Display - Reading Drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 21/01/2017-04/06/2017

Literature

Miller, Dwight, 'Some Bolognese drawings in California Collections' in 'Master Drawings', Spring 1980 - 40-47 and 86-91; 18, 1
pp. 42-44
pl. 24

Inscriptions

Inscription: Donato a me B: Simone Campagnoli dal Sige Giusep: Marchesi detto Sansone mio Maestro in Bologna, e questo é / un Pensiero, ó Idea d’un Angelo di un suo Quadro esistente nella Metropolitana di S. Pietro di da. Cittá di Bologna E. / 6 //

Inscription: A17450 / c/-/- //

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

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