drawing
- Museum number
- 1884,0308.9
- Description
-
Charity; a woman, three-quarter length, looking down to left at three infants clinging to her side
Black chalk
Turner and Plazzotta 1991
She is standing and is represented to below the waist; her head is in profile to the left and she looks down at a child lying on his back in front of her; behind him are two other children, one clinging to the woman's right shoulder.
- Production date
- 1652-1688
- Dimensions
-
Height: 223 millimetres
-
Width: 193 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Turner and Plazzotta 1991
Although the style of the drawing reflects Guercino's late period, the execution seems not to be his. The composition is reminiscent of a picture of 'Charity', datable 1661, by Cesare Gennari in the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome (Bagni, 1986, p. 295 and p. 304, fig. 166). There are, however, many differences between the two works, the most important being that the figure of Charity is seated in the painting, and is shown bare-breasted, suckling one of the infants. In spite of these important differences, there are sufficient minor points in common to justify the conclusion that this drawing may be an early preparatory study by Cesare for this picture.
A weaker version of the drawing, also in black chalk but in reverse, is in the Uffizi, Florence (inv. no. 3676-S; 217 x 193mm, as Guercino). This is almost certainly a faint offset, retouched.
Literature: Bagni, Benedetto Gennari e la bottega del Guercino, Padua, 1986
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1884
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1884,0308.9
