drawing
- Museum number
- 2012,7062.1
- Description
-
The Fall of Antichrist, after Luca Signorelli
Pen and grey ink, grey wash, over graphite
- Production date
- 1792-1793 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 460 millimetres
-
Width: 374 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- Copied from the left-hand section of Signorelli's fresco of the 'Preaching and Fall of Antichrist' on the left-hand wall of the Cappella di S. Brizio (or the Cappella Nova) painted with scenes from the 'Last Judgement' in 1499-1502 in Orvieto cathedral. Ottley made the drawing either in 1792 when he was in Orvieto with John Flaxman (when the latter made two drawings in the BM after Maitani's 'Last Judgement' reliefs on the facade of the cathedral, 1884,0209.16 and 17), or the following year when he drew another scene from the same chapel now in the BM, 1973,0120.11. The two BM drawings amply testify to Ottley's admiration for Signorelli's frescoes in Orvieto which he knew from Giorgio Vasari's 'Lives' were a key influence on the 'Last Judgement' painted by his artistic idol Michelangelo in the Sistine chapel. Ottley was also a pioneering collector of Signorelli's drawings: three of the BM's works once belonged to him.
Lit.: H. Brigstocke, 'John Flaxman and William Young Ottley in Italy', "Walpole Society", 2010, no. 63, p. 418
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2013, May-Sept, BM, 'Recent Acquisitions' (no cat.)
- Acquisition date
- 2012
- Acquisition notes
- This item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45. The British Museum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.
The drawing was part of a group of Ottley drawings acquired by the dealer John Appleby in London in the 1970s.
It has been presented by Frances Carey and David Bindman in honour of the Ottley Group and the Department of Prints and Drawings.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 2012,7062.1