Head for the Figure of Saint Andrew
1781. White chalk, Red chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Saint Andrew in the lower-left part of the cupola interior of the fresco Regina Apostolorum. It was painted in 1781 and is located in the left-hand 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 also several preparatory drawings for the same fresco. This drawing is a study of the figure’s head. The head is depicted leaning to the left of the piece and foreshortened. The Museum also keeps the preparatory drawing for the same figure (D003314), which constitutes the study of the body and posture.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.79
