Giovanni Paolo Panini

Anatole France, according to an inscription on the mount;
sale, London, Sotheby's, 5 July 2000, lot 49; acquired at the sale

Laid down. Some slight foxing. Writing shows through from verso, otherwise the condition is good.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This fine, free and energetic drawing is a preliminary study, with differences, for Panini's painting of 1736, one of four commissioned from him by Philip V of Spain at the suggestion of the architect Juvarra, for the Palazzo di S. Idelfonso, known as La Granja, near Segovia.¹  Panini was among a small number of Roman artists who received the patronage of the Spanish King;  others included were Francesco Imperiale, Sebastiano Conca, Francesco Trevisiani and Placido Costanzi.  A bozzetto for this composition is known but is closer in detail to the final painting than this drawing.  On the other hand the following lot, which is a more highly finished drawing for the same canvas, remains closer in composition to the present sketch than to the finished painting.  Only very few preparatory drawings for the commission seem to have survived:  Arisi mentions a mere three figure studies in Berlin, which relate to two of the other paintings in the series (Christ at the Pool of Bethesda and Christ Disputing with the Doctors).²  More recently, two compositional studies relating to Christ Disputing with the Doctors have appeared on the art market.³ 

1. See F. Arisi, Gian Paolo Pannini, Piacenza 1961, p. 152, cat. nos. 107-8, figs. 158-9

2. See Arisi, op. cit., pp. 151-152, under nos. 105, 106

3. London, Christie's, 4 July 2000, lot 18 and London, Christie's, 2 July 1991, lot 119