Comparable to no. IV, 64, the present sheet by Domenico Campagnola likely dates to after the middle of the 1540s, when the master’s style evolved to a more delicate, rhythmically flowing penstroke.
The drawing abruptly cuts off at both the right and left edges, almost as if Domenico intended to maintain the blank edges to frame the composition. It would also appear to have been cut down slightly at the top and bottom edges.
Watermark: none.
Inscribed by the artist at upper center, on the panel at head of the cross, in pen and brown ink, "INRI /.../..."; and, according to a note in departmental files, on verso of mount(?), in pen and brown ink, with Barnard's initials followed by: "N: 282 / 16 1/4 by 11.; Domenico Campaganola scolaro di Tiziano, toccò i Paesi per Eccellenza alla Tizianesca; (25)".
Lely, Peter, Sir, 1618-1680, former owner.
Barnard, John, 1709-1784, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Tietze and Tietze-Conrat 1944, 129, no. 518; Santagiustina Poniz 1981, 64, 69 n.18.
Collection J. Pierpont Morgan : Drawings by the Old Masters Formed by C. Fairfax Murray. London : Privately printed, 1905-1912, IV, 63, repr.