Lot 67: Giovanni Maria Crespi, lo Spagnuolo (Bologna 1665-1747)

Saint Roch
with inscription '..Cr[esp]i detto lo Spagnuolo, ricordio dal Cartone....Dom c o Fava'
red chalk, watermark encircled sun below cross, the lower left corner cut, minor losses
12 1/4 x 7 3/4 in. (310 x 198 mm.)

An unidentified armorial mark.
An unidentified collector's inscription 'Crespi detto lo Spagnuolo Comprato a Bologna 16 Maggio 1875' on the mount.

The inscription on the present drawing suggests that it may be connected to a commission for the Fava family, one of the great families of art patrons in Bologna, perhaps for Conte Fava who was elected to the Bolognese Academy in 1708 and again in 1710 (M. Pajes Merriman, Giuseppe Maria Crespi, Milan, 1980, p. 31). Alternatively, since Crespi did not approve Fava's appointment the inscription may refer to the famous frescoes painted at the Palazzo Fava by the Carracci family.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis