17th Century BOLOGNESE SCHOOL
A Putto in Flight, Holding an Urn
Sold
Red chalk on buff paper, laid down on a large album page, with framing lines in red ink.
Numbered 37 in the lower right corner, in the margin.
Inscribed (in a modern hand) Roman School, late 17th century. Perhaps by / Carlo Maratta at the lower right of the album page.
157 x 164 mm. (6 1/4 x 6 3/8 in.)
Numbered 37 in the lower right corner, in the margin.
Inscribed (in a modern hand) Roman School, late 17th century. Perhaps by / Carlo Maratta at the lower right of the album page.
157 x 164 mm. (6 1/4 x 6 3/8 in.)
This fine drawing would appear to be by a Bolognese artist in the circle of the painters Simone Cantarini (1612-1648) or Flaminio Torri (1621-1661). A painter, draughtsman and printmaker, Cantarini studied with Guido Reni in Bologna and worked there and in Rome, Pesaro and Verona. He was highly praised by the Bolognese art historian and biographer Carlo Cesare Malvasia, who noted, however, that he was jealous of other artists and often argued with his patrons. Of his drawings in particular, Malvasia wrote that ‘there has been no more graceful and delightful draughtsman since the days of Parmigianino’, and many of Cantarini’s drawings – which are almost always executed in red chalk - were acquired by contemporary collectors. Although he was an avid and productive draughtsman, only a few drawings by Cantarini can be related to paintings or etchings by him.
Flaminio Torre also studied with Reni in Bologna, and completed his apprenticeship with Cantarini, eventually inheriting his studio after his death in 1648. He settled in Modena by 1658, although the absence of any dated paintings from this period suggests that he painted very little after leaving Bologna. Torre seems to have drawn almost exclusively in red chalk, with a distinctive style which reflects the influence of Cantarini’s draughtsmanship.
Flaminio Torre also studied with Reni in Bologna, and completed his apprenticeship with Cantarini, eventually inheriting his studio after his death in 1648. He settled in Modena by 1658, although the absence of any dated paintings from this period suggests that he painted very little after leaving Bologna. Torre seems to have drawn almost exclusively in red chalk, with a distinctive style which reflects the influence of Cantarini’s draughtsmanship.
Provenance
Once part of a portfolio of drawings (inscribed S.2), with the bookplate of Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis, Walcot Hall, Shropshire
By descent to his son, Robert Henry Clive, Oakly Park, Shropshire
His son, Robert Windsor-Clive, London and Ludlow, Shropshire
His son, Robert George Windsor-Clive, later 1st Earl of Plymouth, Hewell Grange, Tardebigge, Worcestershire
Thence by descent
Sale (‘The Property of the Earl of Plymouth’), London, Christie's, 1 July 1986, lot 123 (unsold)
Private collection.
By descent to his son, Robert Henry Clive, Oakly Park, Shropshire
His son, Robert Windsor-Clive, London and Ludlow, Shropshire
His son, Robert George Windsor-Clive, later 1st Earl of Plymouth, Hewell Grange, Tardebigge, Worcestershire
Thence by descent
Sale (‘The Property of the Earl of Plymouth’), London, Christie's, 1 July 1986, lot 123 (unsold)
Private collection.
