by-nc

Saint Francis embracing the Crucified Christ (recto)

Maker

(artist)
1618-1682

Title

Saint Francis embracing the Crucified Christ (recto)

Date of Production

(circa) 1668 - 1669

Medium

black chalk (recto and verso) on laid paper

Dimensions

Height: 33.8 cm
Width: 22.7 cm

Accession Number

D.1956.WF.4650

Mode of Acquisition

Witt Fund, purchase, 1956

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords









Label Text

This free, ethereal study was preparatory for Murillo’s altarpiece in the Capuchin church of Seville. It might be a rare unfinished drawing by the artist, as the black chalk in his drawings is usually further developed with wash. Saint Francis is shown turning to Christ on the cross; the globe at his feet – shown in two positions – refers to the saint’s rejection of the world. Spanish artists frequently depicted this iconography, which conveys a particularly intimate and personal sense of spiritual devotion.

Notes

Preparatory to Murillo's painting for the altarpiece in the Capuchin church in Seville (1668-69). A more finished drawing is in the Kunsthalle, Hamburg (inv. no. 38597).

Provenance

John Rushout, 2nd Earl of Northwick (1770-1859); G. Rushout, 3rd Earl of Northwick (1811-1887); Lady E.A. Rushout (1832-1912); E.G. Spencer-Churchill (1876-1964); his sale, Sotheby's (London), 1- 4 November 1920, lot 319; Colnaghi (London); purchased there by The Courtauld via the Witt Fund, 1956

Exhibition History

Murillo en el Convento de Capuchinos de Sevilla, Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla, 28/11/2017-01/04/2018

Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682). Drawings, Fundacion Marcelino Botin, Santander, Spain, 30/03/2012-27/05/2012

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

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo 1617-1682, Prado, Madrid and Royal Academy, London, 08/10/1982-27/03/1983

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

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

Murillo and his drawings, The Art Museum, Princeton University, 12/12/1976-30/01/1977

Master Drawings of the 17th century from the Witt Collection, Art Gallery of South Australia, Festival Exhibitions, Adelaide, 1968

Newly Acquired Drawings for the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1965-1966 ...Less

Literature

Brown, Jonathan, Murillo: virtuoso draftsman, New Haven and London 2012
no. 26
ill. (recto)

Véliz, Zahira, Spanish Drawings in the Courtauld Gallery: complete catalogue, London, 2011
no. 39
ill. on p. 143

Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682). Drawings, Fundacion Marcelino Botin, Santander, Spain, 2012
cat. no. 30
ill. on p. 52 (recto and verso) ...More

Peter Cherry, "Murillo's Drawing Academy" in Suzanne L. Stratton-Pruit, Bartoleme Esteban Murillo (1617-1682): Paintings in American Collections., New York 2002 - pp. 47-61
p. 194
ill. no. 72-3

Alfonso Perez Sanchez, Historia del dibujo en Espana de la Edad Media a Goya, Madrid 1986
p.284

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo 1617-1682, Prado, Madrid and Royal Academy, London, 1982-1983
cat. no. D6
p. 203
ill. (recto and verso)

Marques, Manuela B. Mena, "Murillo dibujnte" in Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-82), Madrid 1982 - pp. 77-89
pp.85, 89

Diego Angelo Iniguez, Murillo, Catàlogo Critico, Madrid 1981; 1-3
vol.2, pp. 71-72
no. 72

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. 55

Spanish drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1978 (March - May)
cat. no. 32
ill.

Murillo and his drawings, The Art Museum, Princeton University, 1976-1977
cat. no. 27
no. 27
ill. on p. 101 (recto), p. 102 (verso)

Newly Acquired Drawings for the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1965-1966
cat. no. 48 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Collector's mark: none.

Inscription: Recto: lower left, brown ink: "Murillo" [followed by "fe" according to the file, though is now so faded it is difficult to say].

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