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Saint interceding with Christ for the souls in purgatory
Pietro Antonio DE' PIETRI (Premia, 1663 - Rome, 1716)
Pen and brown ink wash and white gouache highlights on black stone sketch
290 x 184 mm
Provenance :
Nathaniel Hone, (London, 1718-1784), Lugt 2793
Comparative bibliography:
Catherine Loisel-Legrand and Domitille d'Ormesson-Peugeot, La Rome baroque de Maratti à Piranèse : Dessins du Louvre et des collections publiques (Musée du Louvre, RMN, November 15, 1990 - February 18, 1991, pp. 90 - 96; Dieter Graf, "Neues zu Pietro de' Pietri", Römisches Jachbuch der Bibliotheca Hertziana, Band 33, (1999/2000), pp. 427-478.
This sheet, with its synthetic lines and angular drapery, is characteristic of the graphic style of Pietro Antonio de' Pietri, an artist of Lombard origin who first studied in the studio of Giuseppe Ghezzi (1634 - 1721), then in that of Carlo Maratti (1625 - 1713), with whom he collaborated on numerous paintings for churches in Rome, including Santa Maria in Via Lata and the Papal Chapel on the Quirinal. Today, many of his paintings have disappeared, but his large body of graphic work nevertheless gives us some idea of his output.
The theme of the salvation of souls in purgatory had already been addressed by the artist in a drawing now preserved in Chicago, depicting the Virgin and Child, Saints Joseph and Anthony of Padua interceding for the entry of souls into purgatory. Saint Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite nun known to have had visions of purgatory, appears to be holding a monstrance, which she presents to Christ. Another closely related sheet confirming the artist's interest in this theme was also presented by the Jean-Marie Le Fell gallery in Paris.
