Saint Catherine in Prison Converting the Empress Faustina to Christianity, Flanked by Saints Saturnius and Simon
<p>This is an early developed compositional <em>modello</em> for the fresco in the choir of the church of Santa Caterina dei Funari, Rome, datable to 1570/71—a commission that Livio Agresti began (see adjacent drawing) and Federico finished. Ultimately, the fresco was changed from a <em>basamento</em> to an overdoor, as documented by two further studies. Like the Livio Agresti drawing on view nearby, this multilayered work shows Saint Catherine continuing to fight for her cause even while behind bars. The blue paper used as a support, along with the carefully employed washes and gouache, deepens the dank ambience of the saint’s period of incarceration.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1570
- Medium
- Pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, heightened with lead white gouache, on blue laid paper
- Dimensions
- Sight: 19.6 × 39.5 cm (7 3/4 × 15 9/16 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Artist
- Federico Zuccaro
Artist
Painting
Federico Zuccaro, also known as Federico Zuccari and Federigo Zucchero, was an Italian painter, draughtsman, architect and writer. He worked in various cities in Italy, as well as in other countries such as Spain, France, the Spanish Netherlands and England. He was an important representative of late Mannerism in Italian art.
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More by Federico Zuccaro
Submission of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to Pope Alexander III
1712 · Red chalk on ivory laid paper
Assumption of the Virgin
1607 · Black and red chalk on cream wove paper, laid down on cream laid paper
Assumption of the Virgin
1607 · Black and red chalk on cream wove paper
Taddeo Zuccaro at the Entrance to Rome, Greeted by Servitude, Hardship, and Toil
1590 · Pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, on tan laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper
A Pope Receiving a Dignitary in a Public Place (recto) Caricatures of Heads (verso)
1580 · Pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash and black chalk, on ivory laid paper, laid down on cream laid paper
Group of Blessed Souls: Study for the Last Judgment
1576 · Pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash, with traces of black chalk and pale blue wash, on ivory laid paper, squared in red chalk, laid down on ivory laid paper
Record
Verified by WattsOS- Artist
- Federico Zuccaro
- Year
- 1570
- Medium
- Pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, heightened with lead white gouache, on blue laid paper
- Dimensions
- Sight: 19.6 × 39.5 cm (7 3/4 × 15 9/16 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1570-118929
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified