Lot 191: Stefano Pozzi (Rome 1699-1768)

The penitent Magdalen oil on copper 193/4 x 131/2 in. (50 x 34.3 cm.) PROVENANCE Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 19 June 1953, lot 105, as 'Spanish School'. NOTES We are grateful to Giancarlo Sestieri for the attribution after examining the painting in the original. The eldest son of an ivory carver in Rome, Pozzi trained under Andrea Procaccini until 1720, and then of Agostino Masucci. By 1732 he was admitted to the Congregazione dei Virtuosi al Pantheon, and by 1736 the Accademia di S. Luca. After going to Naples at the behest of Cardinal Spinelli, he worked on the interiors of some of Luigi Vanvitelli's buildings. Afterwards he worked mainly for the Papacy back in Rome, with Benedict XIV asking him to both decorate the new buildings of the Accedemia del Nudo and also to become it's first director. In 1758 Pope Clement XIII appointed Pozzi to succeed Agostino Masucci to the post of Custode delle Pitture di Raffaello. Amongst his many works for the Vatican, Pozzi took over from Daniele da Volterra's work in covering up the nudity in Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. SALESROOM NOTICE Please note that this lot should be STARRED for VAT at 5.