drawing
- Museum number
- 1946,0713.904
- Description
-
St Cecilia playing the organ, with classical angels playing other instruments such as archlute, harp and recorder; two singers to the left of the saint
Black chalk
- Production date
- 1678-1716
- Dimensions
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Height: 268 millimetres
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Width: 198 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- A variant of this composition with an old attribution to Imperiali was offered at Christie's, 8 July 2008, lot 48.
Lit.: A.E. Popham, 'Catalogue of Drawings in the Collection formed by Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., F.R.S., now in the possession of his Grandson, T. Fitzroy Phillipps Fenwick of Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham', London, 1935, p. 158, no. 1; N. Turner, 'Italian Drawings in the BM, Roman Baroque Drawings', London, 1999, I, no. 268
Turner 1999
A note on the modern mount written in pencil and signed "A.L". attributes the drawing to Francesco Fernandi called Imperiali (1679-1740). A chalk drawing bearing an old attribution to Imperiali, formerly in the collection of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik and of exactly the same design as the present drawing, presumably served as the basis for this attribution. The two drawings differ only in minor details; in general the ex-Penicuik study is more strongly outlined and includes a few extra details, such as the vegetal motif decorating the corner of the harp nearest the head of the saint. Despite certain weaknesses in the Penicuik version, such as the rather awkward right leg of the angel playing a flute in the foreground at the left, the drawings could be by the same hand. Comparison with securely attributed drawings by Imperiali (Clark, 1981) suggests that the British Museum drawing may possibly also be by this artist.
Literature: Popham, 1935, I, p.158, no. 1.
- Location
- Not on display
- Previous owner
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Previous owner/ex-collection: George Knapton (T. Philipe, 30.v.1807/610 as Pietri 'St. Cecilia, accompanied by several angels - black chalk -fine' bt Ottley £1-10-0)
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Previous owner/ex-collection: William Young Ottley (T Philipe, 15.vi.1814/953 as Pietro da Pietri 'One -St. Cecilia - black chalk - gracefully composed' bt Smith £0-10-6)
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Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Thomas Lawrence (L.2445)
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Previous owner/ex-collection: Samuel Woodburn (Christie's, 7.vi.1860/part of lot 671 as Pietro dei Pietri 'St Cecilia, with angels, P. DA PETRI; the Crucifixion, P. AQUILANO; the Virgin kneeling, N. DEL ABATI, &c.', 7 in the lot, bt Phillipps £1-0-0)
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Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Thomas Phillipps
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Previous owner/ex-collection: Thomas Fitzroy Fenwick
- Acquisition date
- 1946
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1946,0713.904