Angel Bust
1778. White chalk, Black chalk on blue paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of an angel on the right side of the central register of the fresco The Glory of the Lamb of God, located within a section of the cupola interior over the High Altar located in the Royal Chapel of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. The bust of the angel is depicted with its head turned to the left of the drawing and foreshortened when viewed from below. The hands joined in prayer are also studied. The Museo del Prado keeps a preparatory sketch (P000601) for the same section of The Glory of the Lamb of God; there are evident similarities between the drawing and oil sketch. The Museum also keeps other preparatory drawings for the sketch of the fresco, such as God the Father (D000413), and of another fresco, such as that of Young Angel (D000393). Francisco Bayeu also painted other parts of the chapel such as the cupola in which he developed the following themes: the Attributes of the Virgin and the Allegory of the Church facing the High Altar; in front, Faith with the Tablets of the Law; on the Gospel side, there is Saint Luke painting the Virgin, and on the Epistle side, the Prophet Isaiah. The Museum also keeps other related preparatory drawings and sketches.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.64
