The Rest on the Flight to Egypt

Details

Roman School, 17th Century
The Rest on the Flight to Egypt
oil on slate, oval
17¾ x 23 in. (45 x 58½ cm.)
in a magnificent carved and gilted Antique French Régence pattern frame with integral oval inset, either made by or adapted by Huguenot craftsmen in London

Provenance

Purchased in Bologna in 1758 by Richard Dalton for Sir Richard Grosvenor, 7th Bt., later 1st Earl Grosvenor (1731-1802), recorded in a schedule of 'pictures bought for Sir Richard Grosvenor Bart- at Rome, Florence, and Bologna, by R. Dalton': 'At Bologna il Riposo, o, la Madonna della Scudella di Federico Barrocio.' and valued at £50;
his son, Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster (1767-1845) and by descent in the Westminster collection at Grosvenor House; Christie's, London, 4 July 1924, lot 1, as 'Federigo Baroccio [sic], La Vierge à l'Écuelle' (90 gns. to Vicars).
with Galerie Charles Brunner, Paris, 1926.

Literature

J. Young, Catalogue of the Pictures at Grosvenor House, London, 1821, p. 14, pl. 23 engraved by J. Young (Drawing Room. No. 45. Federigo Barroccio. The Reposo. Purchased by Mr. Dalton, in Italy, for the late Lord Grosvenor.).
A. Jameson, Companion to the Most Celebrated Private Galleries of Art in London, London, 1844, p. 244, no. 9 (A Riposo. Called 'La Vierge a l'Ecuelle', from the basin which the Virgin dips into the fountain. St. Joseph. behind, presents to the infant Christ some fruit which he has gathered from a tree. In the background is seen the ass. Purchased by Mr. Dalton. The idea of this composition is borrowed from the Riposo of Correggio, known by the same title, 'la Madonna della Scodella').
H. Olsen, Federico Barocci, Copenhagen, 1962, p. 155, under no. 22, III, copies.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.

Brought to you by

Miriam Winson-Alio

Check the condition report or get in touch for additional information about this

mwinson-alio@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2432

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

This painting derives from a prototype painted by Barocci for Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, as a present to Lucrezia d'Este, shortly before or after her marriage to his son Francesco Maria II della Rovere in 1570. The picture, now lost, passed by descent into the Aldobrandini family in Rome, where it was engraved in 1612 and 1772, and listed in various inventories. It must have arrived in England in about 1800, and is recorded in Lord Gawagh's and Sir Day's collections. Barocci painted two other versions of this composition, one for the Conte Antonio Brancaleoni (Church of Santo Stefano, Piobbico, Marche) and a second, possibly for Simonetto Anastagi of Perugia (Rome, Pinacoteca Vaticana). Olsen (op. cit. pp. 154-5) notes that according to the 1772 engraving by Capellano, the first version was very close to the picture in the Pinacoteca Vaticana, the only difference being that the Christ Child is bending the other knee. He also lists several copies, most of them connected with the version in the Pinacoteca Vaticana, of which this is one.
The composition ultimately finds its inspiration in Correggio's Madonna della Scodella, of 1530, in the Galleria Nazionale in Parma.

Richard Dalton (1720-1791) was Librarian to George, Prince of Wales (subsequently George III) and in 1778 was made Surveyor of the Royal Pictures. He purchased this painting for Sir Richard Grosvenor in 1758, when he travelled to Italy to acquire drawings for the Prince of Wales.

More from Old Master & 19th Century Paintings, Drawings & Watercolours (Day Sale)

View All