The drawing is a copy, perhaps by a Northern European artist, after Federico Barocci’s Deposition of Christ from the Cross in the Chapel of San Bernardino in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Perugia (1568-69; Emiliani 1985, 1: 60; Turner 2001, 45). The copyist has selected the most emotionally intense section with the fainting Virgin, supported by one of the three Maries, while one of the other Maries charges towards her in an agonized frenzy.
Copy after Federigo Barocci, Urbino ca. 1535-1612 Urbino.
Inscribed at lower left, in pen and brown ink, by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel(?), "Frederico Barocio. f 1612"; on verso, at upper left, in red chalk, perhaps by Röver, "N.o 989"; at center in black chalk, "fredericius Barozius"; at lower left corner in pen and brown ink, by Ploos van Amstel (?), "N: 24 / aaaa".
Watermark: none.
Barocci, Federigo, 1528-1612, Formerly attributed to.
Anonymous, Italian School, 16th cent., Formerly attributed to.
Röver, Valerius, 1686-1739, former owner.
Ploos van Amstel, Cornelis, 1726-1798, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Fairfax Murray 1905-1912, 1: 104.