Lot 542: DANIELE CRESPI

DANIELE CRESPI BUSTO ARSIZIO CIRCA 1597 - 1630 MILAN SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA DISPUTING WITH THE PHILOSOPHERS, EMPEROR MAXENTIUS ENTHRONED BEHIND Pen and black ink over red chalk; inscribed in pen and black ink: Pompeo and ottavio 152 by 230 mm; 6 by 9 in

The drawing cannot be connected to a known work, but stylistically it is close to Crespi's study of The Death of Raymond Diocrès, which is preparatory for a fresco in the Certosa of Garegnano.υ1 Crespi completed the decoration of this important Certosa in 1629.υ Characteristic are the agitated pen strokes, the faces, and the figure to the right seen from behind.

We are grateful to Dr Paul Taylor for his help in identifying the subject.

1. Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana; see N. Ward Neilson, Daniele Crespi, Soncino 1996, p. 33; p. 82, no. D14, reproduced p. 213, fig. 71