Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino

G. Vallardi (L.1223) bears his numbering in red chalk: L41; 
C. Prayer (L.2044);
Juan and Felix Bernasconi, their sale, London, Christie's, 1 April 1987, lot 63

D. Mahon and N. Turner, The Drawings of Guercino...at Windsor Castle, Cambridge 1989, p. 24;
N. Turner and C. Plazzotta, Drawings by Guercino from British Collections, exhib. cat., London, British Museum, 1991, p. 91, under no. 61;
D. Stone, Guercino, Master Draftsman, exhib. cat., Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University, et al., 1991, p. 51, note 16

Window mounted. In very good condition with pen and ink very fresh. The sheet also remains in good condition. Sold in a small gilded frame with decorative border
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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 is an early idea for Guercino's fresco of the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, in the Duomo, Piacenza (fig. 1).  In 1626 he was commissioned to complete the decoration of the cupola begun by Morazzone.  He painted a series of Prophets and in 1627 returned to paint four scenes from the early life of Christ: The Nativity, The Adoration of the Shepherds, The Presentation in the Temple and the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, as well as a series of Sibyls, in the lunettes below the vault.  A large number of drawings has survived for this commission, showing Guercino's usual care and inventiveness in developing his ideas.  The present charming and very free study differs considerably from the final fresco, in which St. Joseph presents the Christ Child to the Virgin.  A full study of the project and the related drawings was written by Prisco Bagni,¹ and Mahon and Turner in their Windsor catalogue added subsequent discoveries.  Another study for the composition, closer to the fresco and also from the Vallardi collection, was sold London, Christie's, 10 April 1985, lot 47.

1. P. Bagni, Guercino a Piacenza, Bologna 1983