God the Father
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on blue paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of God the Father in the painted fresco over the interior cupola of the small altar of the oratory in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. On the right, Francisco Bayeu depicted the Adoration of the Shepherds and Saint Luke. The Adoration of the Magi and Saint Matthew are on the frontispiece and two groups of angels appear on a painting over the door. On the walls on either side of the small window, he portrayed the Visitation and this one, the Flight into Egypt. Finally, on the cupola interior located in the small room where the altar is situated, he depicted the Holy Spirit surrounded by angels between Saint John Evangelist and Solomon. The Museo del Prado keeps several related preparatory drawings. The figure is depicted seated on a cloud, facing forwards with his right arm outstretched. The study of the mantle is very thorough. However, the figure is only provisionally sketched.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos. II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.106
