Old Master Drawings
Old Master Drawings
CRISTOFANO ALLORI | ALEXANDER THE GREAT CUTTING THE GORDIAN KNOT
Auction Closed
January 29, 05:09 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
CRISTOFANO ALLORI
Florence 1577 - 1621
ALEXANDER THE GREAT CUTTING THE GORDIAN KNOT
Black chalk and brown wash, heightened with white;
bears old attribution on the album page in pen and brown ink, lower centre: Cristoforo Allori;
also bears inscription in black chalk on the back of the mount: Coll. Gaburri
228 by 173 mm; 9 by 6¾ in
Possibly Francesco Maria Niccolò Gabburri (1676-1742), Florence
This intriguing composition, executed in a combination of black chalk and wash, might be a scene of martyrdom. It has not been possible to connect this to any of Allori's painted compositions nor confirm its subject but it is a lively and dynamic scene drawn with confidence and flair.
Cristofano Allori, son of the painter, Alessandro Allori, was one of the leading artists in Florence in the 17th Century. Early in his career he was much admired as a portrait painter but later he concentrated on religious subjects and biblical narratives. He was influenced by Ludovico Cigoli and Domenico Passignano, who were both producing works that were more naturalistic and less mannered than their artistic predecessors.