Watermark: Bird inside circle, surmounted by letter "B". Watermark, Beta radiograph
For Guercino's altarpiece of San Francesca Romana, in the church of Santa Maria in Organo, Verona.
As originally noted by David Stone, this is a study for the second putto from the left in the upper part of Guercino's St. Francesca Romana altarpiece in the church of Sta. Maria in Organo, Verona. The altarpiece was commissioned in 1636 but probably not painted until 1638, the year it was delivered. The putto corresponds very closely in pose to the painted figure, but there is no indication in the drawing of another putto that appears immediately to the left in the altarpiece. It is accordingly not clear whether Guercino drew a stock of flying putti to be inserted into paintings, whether he made drawings of this type with specific paintings in mind, or perhaps even whether he made delicate chalk drawings like this one as independent works inspired by painted figures. -- Catalog entry: Guercino : virtuoso draftsman, Morgan Library & Museum, 2019, p. 82
Greville, Charles, 1762-1832, former owner.
Warwick, George Guy Greville, Earl of, 1818-1893, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner.
Marciari, John. Guercino : virtuoso draftsman. New York : Morgan Library & Museum, in association with Paul Holberton Publishing, 2019, no. 22, repr.
Stone 1991a, 219-20; Turner 2017, 530.