The Descent from the Cross

Gian Antonio Burrini

ca. 1720 · Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and red wash, over red chalk · Drawings and Prints

The signature blue and gold mount of this drawing indicates it was owned by the French collector and connoisseur Pierre-Jean Mariette (1694–1774), who also attributed this composition to Burrini in the elegant inscription on the cartouche. According to Mariette's Abécédario Pittorico (Paris, 1851-1853, vol. 1, p . 236), the Metropolitan Museum of Art's drawing was part of a series of twelve studies for paintings on copper executed by Burrini for the "Count C.P.A.," later identified as Pirro (or Pietro) Capacelli Albergati (Bologna 1663-1735 Bologna). In addition to the present drawing, Mariette's group of four included a Birth of the Virgin, now in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv. 7067), an Adoration of the Shepherds, and a Presentation in the Temple, both now in the Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt (AE 1252 and AE 1253, respectively). (Furio Rinaldi)

Artist

Gian Antonio Burrini

Date

ca. 1720

Medium

Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and red wash, over red chalk

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1961