Lot 312: Antonio Campi (Cremona 1523-1587)

Antonio Campi (Cremona 1523-1587)
Figure studies for the Adoration of the Shepherds (recto); Study of a man's legs for the Adoration of the Shepherds (verso)
with inscription 'Cavυr: Anto. Campo.'
black and white chalk, unframed
11 x 8 1/8 in. (28 x 20.7 cm.); and nine other drawings by various hands (10)

G. Vallardi (L. 1223), with associated inventory number in red chalk 'F326', altered from 'F311' (on the verso).

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In 1575, Antonio Campi executed an Adoration of the Shepherds for the Church of Santa Maria della Croce in Crema (Fig. 1). There are preliminary studies for this picture on both recto and verso of the present sheet, in which Campi already experiments with the nocturnal lighting that he would use in the finished painting. The studies on the recto relate to the shepherds in the foreground, while the legs on the verso are those of the shepherd descending the stairs in the background.

We are grateful to Professor Giulio Bora and to Jak Katalan for endorsing the attribution on the basis of photographs. Professor Bora, whom we thank for his assistance in preparing this catalogue note, intends to publish this drawing in a future article.