THE ASSASSINATION OF EMPEROR CALIGULA
Pen and brown ink, brown wash on paper
18.4 x 26 cm
Bears on the back the collection stamp of Baron Adolphe Augustin Rey de Villette (Lugt L.2200a)
Provenance
Collection of Baron Adolphe Augustin Rey de Villette (1864-1934);
Private collection.
Note
This drawing represents the Assassination of Emperor Caligula. The influence of contemporary theater is evident: the characters appear on a stage with an architectural background. This argues for the authorship of an artist who masters both a creative technique and architectural representation. Baldassarre Peruzzi meets these two qualities: Peruzzi is an Italian painter, draftsman, and architect of the High Renaissance, a student of Bramante, in "competition" with Raphael, who was also a specialist in military architecture. He is related to the Sienese school. He is also considered a precursor of Mannerism. The attribution to Peruzzi can be confirmed by comparison with examples of his drawing talent in the collections of the Louvre Museum: Baldassare Peruzzi, Satirical Allegory: Mercury purging on the town square, pen and brown ink, brown wash, black chalk on paper, 33.2 x 51.5 cm, Collections: Crozat, Pierre (1665-1740) - Vasari, Giorgio - Cabinet du Roi-Mariette, Pierre-Jean, INV 1419.
(Full expertise - 6 pages - on request)