by-nc

Saint Peter

Maker

(artist)
1616-1668

Title

Saint Peter

Date of Production

1652

Medium

black chalk, brown wash on laid paper

Dimensions

Height: 29.5 cm
Width: 19.9 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.494

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

Signed and dated at lower right, this is one of the rare drawings by Antonio del Castillo exclusively executed with the brush. Compared to the precision of linear pen work, this technique is particularly suited for the exploration of light and shadow in the modelling. Here, the subtle use of the brush underscores the quiet pose of Saint Peter, a monumental figure leaning against a bank of earth with a small tree behind, a motif typical in the artist’s drawings.

Notes

Related to a drawing of Saint Paul, also signed with monogram and dated 1652 in the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid (inv. no DIB/13/2/63) and a sheet in the British Museum (1946,0713.1308).

Provenance

Spencer (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b, by 1926; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

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

Antonio de Castillo (1618-1668), Fundacion Marcelino Botin, Santander, Spain, 30/04/2008-15/06/2008

The golden age of Spanish art: from El Greco to Murillo and Valdes Leal: paintings and drawings from British Collections, Nottingham University Art Gallery, 11/02/1980-29/03/1980 ...More

Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)

A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956 ...Less

Literature

Véliz, Zahira, Spanish Drawings in the Courtauld Gallery: complete catalogue, London, 2011
no. 53
Illus. p. 175

Navarrete Prieto, Benito and Fuensanta Torre de la Garcia, Antonio del Castillo, 1616-1668. Dibujos. Catálogo razonado, Santander 2008
no. 83
Illus. p. 343 and no. 17 on p. 71, no. 83.1 on p. 342 and p. 345 (details)

Nancarrow, Mindy and Benito Navarrete Prieto, Antonio del Castillo, Madrid 2004
p. 70
Illus. no. 75 ...More

McDonald, Mark, 'A drawing by Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra in the British Museum' in 'Melbourne Art Journal, 1998 - pp. 15-22; no. 2
p. 19
Illus. no. 4 (detail) and no. 5

The golden age of Spanish art: from El Greco to Murillo and Valdes Leal: paintings and drawings from British Collections, Nottingham University Art Gallery, 1980
cat. no. 48

Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)
cat. no. 17

Valverde Madrid, J., 'Los dibujos de Antonio del Castillo' in 'Goya', 1967
p. 23

Muller, Priscilla, The drawings of Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra. PhD Thesis, New York University., Ann Arbor, Michigan 1963
p. 72, no. 143
Illus. no. 98

A selection of Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1956
cat. no. 5

Mayer, August L., 'Los dibujos espanoles de la coleccion Witt en Londres' in 'Arte Espanol', 1926-27 - pp. 2-4; VIII, 1
p. 3 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: centre: three stacked circles, crowned, the upper one containing a Latin cross (unable to see what the others contain to make a further identification).

Inscription: Recto: lower right edge, brown ink: “8 Rvale”; lower right corner, signed with the artist’s initials and dated: “AC / 1652 //”. Verso: upper centre, black chalk, now mostly illegible: “[...]oy”.

Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.ukFind out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection