Drawings from the Collection of Carlos Alberto Cruz
The Virgin and Child
Lot Closed
July 8, 11:07 AM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 4,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Drawings from the Collection of Carlos Alberto Cruz
Alonso Cano
Granada 1601 - 1667
The Virgin and Child
Pen and brown ink within pen and brown ink framing lines;
bears signature in pen and brown ink, lower left: Alo. Cano. f. and bears pen and brown ink inscriptions and numbering (in black chalk) verso: No. 18 Junio Ciento y en.../En 28 Junio Ciento (?) / Joseph Martinez del Aquila (?)
154 by 90 mm
This sketch, seemingly rapidly drawn with vigorous pen and ink strokes, is a surprisingly detailed and tender depiction of the Madonna and Child. The artist has captured the close bond between mother and child in this familiar Holy iconography. The Virgin’s head is tilted downwards as her gaze is on the Christ Child, whilst the child places one hand on his mother’s arm, his other hand either gesturing outwards or possibly tugging at her mantle. The multiple pen and ink lines in certain areas demonstrate the artist working out the poses, working and re-working on top of his original lines to find the best solution. A similar technique can be seen in Alonso Cano’s drawing, The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua in the Musée du Louvre, Paris.1
Here, the same quick and energetic pen work is evident as the artist sketches Saint Anthony interacting with the Christ Child.
The Cruz drawing cannot be directly related to a particular painting by Cano, but is obviously a working study for a Virgin and Child. At the time of the Oppé sale in 2006 (see Provenance) it was suggested that the drawing may be connected to Alonso Cano’s wooden sculpture of the Virgen de Belen in the Museum of Granada Cathedral.2
1. Alonso Cano Dibujos, exhib.cat., Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado, 2001, no. 43, reproduced
2. H.E. Wethey, Alonso Cano, Madrid 1983, no. 113 pl. 129
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