Pomponio Allegri

With Benjamin Vandergucht (1753-1794), painter turned picture dealer;
Purchased from the above in 1789 by Sir Abraham Hume, Bt. (d. 1838), of Ashbridge Park, and by descent;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 8 December 1972, lot 14, for 3,200 gns. (as Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli);
Acquired there or shortly after by the father of the present owner;
Thence by inheritance.

Sir Abraham Hume, A Descriptive Catalogue of a Collection of Pictures, Comprehending Specimens of All the Various Schools of Painting..., 1824, no. 56 (as Correggio);
A.R. Milstein, The Paintings of Girolamo Bedoli, New York 1978, p. 362, reproduced fig. 154 (as Pomponio Allegri).

The support consists of a single, stable panel with two horizontal batons set into the reverse. The paint surface is secure and appears to be in good condition, bar some signs of old lifting along the lines of old craquelure, under a dirty old, yellowed varnish. There is an old vertical damage of approx. 5 cm to the right of Joseph's right hand and old retouching work is visible to the naked eye in this area. Inspection under UV light confirms this and although some other old retouching work does fluoresce, thorough inspection of UV light is impeded by the old varnish. Offered in a varnished wooden frame with a gilt slip inset.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Pomponio Allegri was the son of one of the most celebrated Renaissance painters, Antonio Allegri, known as Correggio. Having learnt the rudiments of art from his father before he died when Pomponio was only thirteen, Pomponio was taught principally by Francesco Rondani, one of Correggio's pupils. Pomponio received important commissions in Parma, including a fresco in the cathedral, which depicts Moses and the Israelites on Mount Sinai.

We are grateful to Professor David Ekserdjian for noting the derivation of the figure of Joseph in the present painting from a drawing of a standing man by Parmigianino (Musée du Louvre, Paris),¹ which was also copied by Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli in his painting of the Raising of Drusiana (Museo di Palazzo Ducale, Mantua).²

1. Inv. no. 6394; see A.E. Popham, Catalogue of the Drawings of Parmigianino, New Haven and London 1971, vol. I, p. 137, cat. no. 374, reproduced vol. II, plate 197.
2. See D. Ekserdjian, 'Sui disegni di Parmigianino e i dipinti del Bedoli: una questione di influssi', in L. Fornari Schianchi (ed.), Parmigianino e il manierismo europeo: Atti del Convegno internazionale di studi - Parma, 13-15 giugno 2002, Milan 2002, pp. 237-41, figs 1-2.