Saint Paul Preaching

Attributed to Agostino Carracci

Associated Names
Agostino Carracci

Artist, Bolognese, 1557 - 1602

The image shows an ink drawing of a figure seen from the back, revealing the entire body from head to feet. The person stands with one foot slightly forward, appearing as if walking or stepping, and gestures with their right hand pointing upward and their left arm outstretched to the side. The facial features are not visible from this perspective, but the figure appears to have shoulder-length hair. The person is dressed in a flowing robe that drapes to the ankles, suggesting movement. Surrounding the figure at the lower right, there are several indistinct forms resembling heads or busts. In the background, there are sketchy outlines of architectural structures, like a roof or pavilion, rendered in a loose, impressionistic style.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    Overall: 32.1 x 23.6 cm (12 5/8 x 9 5/16 in.)
    overall (tipped into album page): 48.9 x 38.4 cm (19 1/4 x 15 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1988.3.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

From an album said to have belonged to King Philip V of Spain, which was dismembered and sold at Sotheby's, London, 22 November 1966, no. 116, as Salvator Rosa; purchased by Fox; private collection (sale, Sotheby's, New York, 13 January 1988, no. 70, as Bolognese School, 17th century); David Tunick, Inc., New York, for NGA, purchase in 1988.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1988

  • Italian Renaissance Drawings, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1988, no cat.

Inscriptions

by later hand on album page, upper center in brown ink: 47.-

Watermarks

Fleur-de-lis in circle, crown with star

Wikidata ID

Q64536760

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