Head for the Figure of James the Younger
1781. White chalk, Red chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of James the Younger in the lower-right part of the cupola fresco Regina Apostolorum, painted in 1781 and located in the left nave of the Holy Chapel of the Basilica of the Pilar in Zaragoza. The Museo Diocesano in Zaragoza keeps two preparatory sketches, one of them in grisaille. In the Museo del Prado, there are several preparatory drawings for the same fresco.
This is a study of the figure’s head, depicted in left profile and seen from behind. The Museum keeps the preparatory drawing (D000622) for the body of this figure.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.81
