Watermark: encircled mounts surmounted by a cross (?), similar to Briquet 11914.
A rare depiction of a passage from the Book of Revelation, this drawing represents the catastrophic aftermath of a devastating earthquake. It is part of a set of twenty-two sheets by Campagnola that were closely based on Giusto de' Menabuoi's Apocalypse fresco cycle painted during the fourteenth century in the Baptistery of Padua Cathedral. Campagnola updated the scenes: although most of the buildings were derived from the artist's imagination, some are partially based on well-known modern landmarks, such as Bramante's Tempietto in Rome, visible at the lower right. -- Exhibition Label, from "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection"
Inscribed on the mount in Udny's hand, "Titian"; in Esdaile's hand, "Fall of a City by an Earthquake"; on verso, in Udny's hand, "This a Genuine Drawing of Titian / representing the fall of a City by an / Earthquake".
Udny, Robert, 1722-1802, former owner.
Esdaile, William, 1758-1837, former owner.
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Clayton 2004, 330; New York and Williamstown 2017-18, 42; Eitel-Porter and Marciari 2019, 54.
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY, "Drawn to Greatness: Master Drawings from the Thaw Collection", 2017. Exh. cat., no. 32, repr.
The Thaw Collection : Master Drawings and Oil Sketches : Acquisitions since 1994. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 2002, no. 2, repr.