Study for the Martyrdom of St. Andrew, or The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew
Accession Number
1990.08.036
Format
drawings
Culture
Italian (culture or style)
Genre
Histories (visual works); Religious art
Origin Information
Italy
Date
No date (17th century)
Physical Description
1 drawing ; 15 3/8 x 10 5/8 in. (39 x 27.1 cm)
Note (Medium/support)
Red chalk on gray paper mounted on cardboard; squared for transfer
Note (Ownership)
Gift of the Estate of Lola Szladits
Note
The representation of the main figure, a bearded man, arranged as if he crucified, along with some of the other figures, suggests the drawing is a study for Courtois's "Martyrdom of St. Andrew" at Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, Rome, depicting the saint cr ucified on an X. However, a figure uses knives to cut into the legs of the bearded man, suggesting this drawing could depict the martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, although under this title it is related to an untraced painting, despite the transfer marks on the drawing. The Delany sale in 1872 lists both a drawing of "The Martyrdom of St. Andrew" by Domenico Zampieri (Domenichino), lot 162 (later reattributed to Courtois), but there is also a listing for a drawing of "The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew" by an unknown artist in red chalk on gray paper, part of lot 7.