Lot 26: Benedetto Marini (Urbino circa 1590-circa 1627 Piacenza)

The Miracle of San Savino
with inscription 'Guido'
black and white chalk, on blue paper
14 1/4 x 19 3/4 in. (337 x 500 mm.)

N. Schwed, in Disegno, giudizio e bella maniera. Studi sul disegno italiano in onore di Catherine Monbeig Goguel, Milan, 2005, no. 106.

N. Lanier (L. 2885).
J. Richardson Jun. (L. 2170).
J. Gulston? (L. 474).
W. Y. Ottley (L. 2663).
Anonymous sale; Christie's London, 7 July 1998, lot 76 (as Florentine School, early 17th Century).

This, the only known drawing by Benedetto Marini, is a preparatory study for one of four compartments in the ceiling of the Chapel of San Savino and of the Madonna del Popolo in the Cathedral at Faenza (N. Schwed, loc. cit., fig. a). The decoration of the chapel was commissioned in 1612, with Ferraù Fenzoni responsible for the walls and Marini the ceiling. The painting follows the drawing very closely, save for the iconographically incorrect inclusion of the saint's hands: San Savino, first bishop of Faenza, had had his hands cut off as a punishment for throwing down a statue of Jupiter. He performed a number of miracles such as restoring the sight of a widow's son (shown here) before being martyred by Diocletian in 303 A.D. The medium, technique and style is very similar to that of Federico Barocci, the most influential artist active in the Marche in the period. Despite the existence of at least twenty pictures by Marini, in the Marche, Piacenza and elsewhere, the present work, first identified by Nicolas Schwed, is the only known drawing by the artist.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Please note that this drawing should not carry the dagger symbol.