Lot 24: The Death of Adonis

Giovanni Maria Bottalla (Savona 1613-1644 Milan)
The Death of Adonis
black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash, heightened with white
8 7/8 x 12 in. (304 x 224 mm.)

J.M. Merz, Pietro da Cortona, Tübingen, 1991, p. 338, no. 3c.

Van Parijs (L. 2531), his mount and number '96'.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 7 December 1978, lot 55 (as Follower of Cortona).

A pupil of Pietro da Cortona, Bottalla was heavily influenced by his master, evident in the present drawing. He was also a great admirer of Raphael and this in turn earnt him the nickname 'Raphaellino'. His most important patron in Rome was Cardinal Sacchetti for whom he executed several pictures, some of which were later moved to the Capitol by Pope Benedict XIV.