Lot 323: LUIGI GARZI

PISTOIA 1638 - 1721 ROME RECTO: ST. BONAVENTURA PREACHING TO A CROWD AND POINTING TOWARDS A VISION OF A SAINT, WITH THE ARMS OF POPE ALESSANDRO VII, CHIGI, BELOW; VERSO: STUDY FOR THE FIGURE OF A DEACON AND SEPARATE STUDIES FOR THE HEAD AND BUST OF A WOMAN AND AN OWL Black chalk (recto and verso), squared in black chalk for transfer (recto); bears old pen and brown ink inscription, verso: Composizioni per quadri / Santi e martiri 560 by 367 mm

Newcastle, 1974, no. 82; Newcastle, 1982, no. 66

Sale, London, Sotheby's, 13 July 1972, lot 34, purchased by Ralph Holland

The coat of arms below the Saint in glory is that of Pope Alessandro VII, Chigi (1655-1667). The attribution was first proposed by Philip Pouncey. Ralph Holland recorded in his notes the existence of another drawing by Garzi, also attributed by Pouncey, which subsequently appeared on the London art market.1 Also double sided, that drawing has on the recto (fig. 1) a sketch for the same composition as the present sheet. 1. Sale, London, Phillips, 4 December 1989, lot 70