DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52600#0145
CHAPTER IV
DRAWINGS CONNECTED WITH BARTOLOMEO
MONTAGNA
Bayonne. Musee Bonnat. No. 139. The Virgin
with the Body of Christ, surrounded by Saints. A
fragment.
The Virgin is seated on a marble throne, in front of a curtain, holding
with both hands the body of Christ. Close by this group, two holy
women are kneeling on either side : to the left, St. Mary, the wife of
Cleophas, wailing and clasping her hands; to the right, St. Mary
Magdalen, looking towards heaven, and raising her hands in lamentation.
Nearer to the spectator there were formerly, on both sides, other figures
of standing saints; but at present one sees to the left only a portion
of a figure of St. Christopher, whilst to the right there are represented
Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, turning their heads
towards each other ; the former points with his right hand towards the
right and has a cross in his left, the latter holds the chalice. Behind,
there is a barrier over which a landscape is seen. The present lower
border of the drawing cuts the foremost figures somewhat below their
knees; it mutilates also an old inscription under the central group,
which, as it appears, described one of the Bellini as the author. On
paper; pen and bistre, washed with grey. 0.14 x 0.18. Collections,
Marquis de Lagoy (mark), Desperet (mark).
The Montagnesque character of this interesting
piece is distinctly visible in the landscape and in the
draperies; whilst the group of the Virgin and Christ
at once makes us think of the pala and the fresco in
the church of the Madonna del Monte. The quality
seems to me, however, not worthy of Montagna
himself and rather to betray some less gifted follower
of his.
IOI
DRAWINGS CONNECTED WITH BARTOLOMEO
MONTAGNA
Bayonne. Musee Bonnat. No. 139. The Virgin
with the Body of Christ, surrounded by Saints. A
fragment.
The Virgin is seated on a marble throne, in front of a curtain, holding
with both hands the body of Christ. Close by this group, two holy
women are kneeling on either side : to the left, St. Mary, the wife of
Cleophas, wailing and clasping her hands; to the right, St. Mary
Magdalen, looking towards heaven, and raising her hands in lamentation.
Nearer to the spectator there were formerly, on both sides, other figures
of standing saints; but at present one sees to the left only a portion
of a figure of St. Christopher, whilst to the right there are represented
Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, turning their heads
towards each other ; the former points with his right hand towards the
right and has a cross in his left, the latter holds the chalice. Behind,
there is a barrier over which a landscape is seen. The present lower
border of the drawing cuts the foremost figures somewhat below their
knees; it mutilates also an old inscription under the central group,
which, as it appears, described one of the Bellini as the author. On
paper; pen and bistre, washed with grey. 0.14 x 0.18. Collections,
Marquis de Lagoy (mark), Desperet (mark).
The Montagnesque character of this interesting
piece is distinctly visible in the landscape and in the
draperies; whilst the group of the Virgin and Christ
at once makes us think of the pala and the fresco in
the church of the Madonna del Monte. The quality
seems to me, however, not worthy of Montagna
himself and rather to betray some less gifted follower
of his.
IOI