Bon Boullogne

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Bon Boullogne

1649-1717

Saint Thomas Looking Upwards, Seated on a Cloud Supported by Two Angels, Two Putti Reading a Book Above

ca. 1699

Black chalk, white opaque watercolor, pen and gray ink and wash, on light brown paper.

12 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches (322 x 266 mm)

Purchased on the Lois and Walter C. Baker Fund.

2006.36

Notes:

This drawing is preparatory for the artist's painting of Saint Thomas for the vault decoration of the Royal Chapel at the Chateau de Versailles. The chapel was one of the last major projects carried out under Louis XIV at Versailles. Although announced in 1682, work only began in 1699 and was completed in 1710. In this sketch, the skeptical apostle Thomas, carrying his lance, is born aloft on a cloud ushered by two angels. The painted panel is in the upper story flanking the central barrel vault, which was frescoed by Antoine Coypel. Boullogne's painted composition is square rather than vertical, but otherwise adheres closely to the arrangement delineated in the Morgan's drawing.

Inscription:

Inscribed at lower left in pen and brown ink, "L.B." On a label removed from frame, COLLECTION VERGUES NOTAIRE / A CARCASSONNE / ECOLE FRANCAISE XVII Siècle / Lafosse / ancienne Coll Peyre de Narbonne.
Watermark: chaplet with Maltese cross (partial; cf. Heawood 228: Paris, 1655 or later).

Provenance:

Maurice Peyre (1801-1859), Narbonne; Vergues collection (active 1850s and 60s), Carcassonne; private collection; sale, Christie's, London, 4 July 2006, lot 91.

Watermark: