Carlo Maratti (Italian, 1625-1713) Studies of Putti

Lot description

Carlo Maratti (Italian, 1625-1713) Studies of Putti black and white chalk, on blue paper, with the collector's stamps of Sir Bruce Ingram (1877-1963) (Lugt 1405a) and Carl Winter (1906-1966) (Lugt 4782), verso studies of hands and drapery in red chalk, with the collector's stamp of Nathanial Hone (1718-1784) (Lugt 2793) (22.5 x 18cm; unframed) Provenance: Nathanial Hone; Carl Winter, Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; with Abbott & Holder, London. Footnote: Literature: Stella Rudolph and Simonetta Prosperi Valenti Rodinò, 'Carlo Maratti (1625-1713) tra la magnificenza del Barocco e il sogno d’Arcadia', Rome, 2024, no. 131.21 (recto only repr.) As noted in the recent monograph on Maratti, the sheet is one of twenty-one studies for the artist’s altarpiece of the 'Virgin and Child with Sts Brromeo and Ignazio di Loyola', of 1655-6, in the Spada Chapel of the church of S Maria in Valicella, Rome (Rudolph and Valenti Rodinò 2024, no. 131). To quote Valenti Rodinò (p. 698): 'un ulteriore foglio in collezione privata (131.21)…ha nel recto lo studio per la parte inferior dell’angioletto in alto al centro, semicoperto da una nuvola, accato due testine per l’altro putto, ma in controparte, e in basso per il braccio del putto seduto in primo piano che indica la targa: a conferme dell’autografia, nel verso vi è lo studio per la mano Destra della Vergine, un brano di panneggio e la mano destra di Sant’Ignazio che indica la Madonna.' ('Another sheet in a private collection (131.21)…features on the front a study for the lower part of the little putto at the top centre, partially obscured by a cloud, alongside two small heads for the other putto, but on the opposite side, and at the bottom, the arm of the cherub seated in the foreground pointing to the plaque: confirming the artist’s hand, the verso features a study for the Virgin’s right hand, a section of drapery, and the right hand of Saint Ignatius pointing to the Madonna'). Condition Report: The work has some horizontal lines across the paper spaced at regular intervals. Light staining and foxing. A tiny tear to lower left corner. Light diagonal creases in corners. There is a small raised brown spot above the cherub's torso and a small brown speckle to the head of the cherub in the lower right. Verso there are two small squares of white paper attached to the corners.