Saint Catherine in Prison Converting the Empress Faustina to Christianity, Flanked by Saints Saturnius and Simon

Description

This is an early developed compositional modello 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 basamento 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.

Provenance

John MacGowan (second half of 18th century), Edinburgh [Lugt 1496]. Sold, Thomas Philipe, London, Jan. 26, 1804, lot 809. William Young Ottley (1771–1836), London. Sold, Thomas Philipe, London, June 6, 1814, lot 1488. Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769–1830), London [Lugt 2445]; Samuel Woodburn (1786–1853), London, from 1830; sold, Christie’s, London, June 4, 1860, part of lot 1074, to Sir Thomas Philipps; by descent to Thomas Fitzroy Fenwick. Dr. Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach, Philadelphia, 1930; Philip H. and A. S. W. Rosenbach Foundation, Philadelphia. The British Rail Pension Fund, 1978; sold, Sotheby’s, New York, Jan. 11, 1990, lot 41. Sold Christie’s, New York, Jan. 28, 1999, lot 36, to John A. Bross; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2014.