Guercino
1591-1666
Christ Crowned with Thorns. Two Attendants
1647
7 1/2 x 12 inches (191 x 305 mm)
Black, red, and white chalk and brown wash on paper.
I, 101a
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1909.
Notes
For Guercino's painting of the subject now in Munich, commissioned by Marchese Tanari.
Guercino was commissioned to paint an Ecce Homo in 1647, spurring him to create one of the most complex and interesting sets of variations on a theme in his drawing oeuvre. Some sheets, including this one, emphasize the cruel act of pressing the crown of thorns onto Christ's head, while others have the gauntleted soldier staring at or mocking Christ. The combination of media used in this drawing is relatively unusual for the artist. Multicolored chalks, dilute brown wash, stumping, and a wet brush used in places to blur and blend the red chalk all unite in a technique that is far more complex than it at first seems. -- Exhibition label: Guercino, virtuoso draftsman, Morgan Library & Museum, 4 October 2019-2 February 2020.
Guercino was commissioned to paint an Ecce Homo in 1647, spurring him to create one of the most complex and interesting sets of variations on a theme in his drawing oeuvre. Some sheets, including this one, emphasize the cruel act of pressing the crown of thorns onto Christ's head, while others have the gauntleted soldier staring at or mocking Christ. The combination of media used in this drawing is relatively unusual for the artist. Multicolored chalks, dilute brown wash, stumping, and a wet brush used in places to blur and blend the red chalk all unite in a technique that is far more complex than it at first seems. -- Exhibition label: Guercino, virtuoso draftsman, Morgan Library & Museum, 4 October 2019-2 February 2020.
Associated names
Forni, Francesco, active 1740s, former owner.
Bouverie, John, 1722 or 1723-1750, former owner.
Bouverie, Anne, -1757, former owner.
Hervey, John, -1764, former owner.
Hervey, Christopher, -1786, former owner.
Bouverie, Elizabeth, -1798, former owner.
Middleton, Charles, Sir, 1726-1813, former owner.
Gainsborough, Charles Noel, Earl of, 1781-1866, 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.
Bouverie, John, 1722 or 1723-1750, former owner.
Bouverie, Anne, -1757, former owner.
Hervey, John, -1764, former owner.
Hervey, Christopher, -1786, former owner.
Bouverie, Elizabeth, -1798, former owner.
Middleton, Charles, Sir, 1726-1813, former owner.
Gainsborough, Charles Noel, Earl of, 1781-1866, 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.
Bibliography
Marciari, John. Guercino : virtuoso draftsman. New York : Morgan Library & Museum, in association with Paul Holberton Publishing, 2019, no. 29, repr.
McCullagh 2014, 152; Turner 2017, 640.
McCullagh 2014, 152; Turner 2017, 640.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department