La Sacra Famiglia con Santa Clara

Acquaforte, circa 1590/1600. Priva di firma e dettagli editoriali.

Esemplare del primo stato di quattro descritto da V. Birke (TIB), avanti l’indirizzo dell’editore Nicola van Aelst.

“Bartsch distinguishes three states, a first without any inscription, a second with Nicolo van Aelst's address, and a third with a reference to Annibale Carracci but no publisher's address. The same distinctions were made by Nagler and Le Blanc. Impressions in Dresden and Parma indicate that another state of this print exists, which bears van Aelst's name as well as a reference to Annibale (S3). On the basis of the publishers's address of van Aelst, who died in Rome in 1613, it seems clear that this is the terminus ante quem for this etching. Carracci's influence, which Pepper also refers to, limits the date more precisely - the last years of the sixteenth century - Annibale arrived in Rome in 1596 - or the beginning of the seventeenth century, and remained until 1613. In this connection, Pepper mentions a drawing by Agostino in the Albertina, in which the Holy Family appears with St. Francis, who kisses the Child's hand. J.T. Prestel's reproductive print (dated 1779) of this drawing, states that Annibale was its author. This indication could speak for its close relationship to Annibale's graphics. The attribution to Reni rests primarily on the opinion of Bartsch whom Nagler and Le Blanc followed. From a stylistic point of view however, the sheet has no convincing slot in the chronological sequence of Reni's prints neither before 1600 - years under Parmigianino’s influence - nor after, while Reni worked in Rome during the first decade of the seventeenth century” (cf. Veronica Birke, Guido Reni in “The Illustrated Bartsch 40 (Commentary), 1987, pp. 349-351, n. 041).

Bellissima prova, impressa su carta vergata coeva, rifilata al rame, in buono stato di conservazione.

Bibliografia

Bartsch, Le Peintre graveur XVIII.303.50, I/III; Veronica Birke, Guido Reni in “The Illustrated Bartsch 40 (Commentary), 1987, pp. 349-351, n. 041, I/IV; Nagler n. 50; Le Blanc n. 14; Pepper, Stephen. 1968. Guido Reni's Early Drawing Style, Master Drawings, vol. 6. no. 4, p. 364.