Head for the Figure of Saint John the Evangelist
1781. Red chalk, White chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Saint John the Evangelist on the left side of the centre register of the cupola interior for the fresco Regina Apostolorum. The latter was painted in 1781 and is 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 in grisaille. The Museo del Prado has several preparatory drawings for this fresco. This drawing is a detailed study of the character’s head, depicted from the front, with a raised gaze and foreshortened. The Museo del Prado has a preparatory drawing of the figure’s body (D000441), as well as a drawing that copies this same head (D000565). However, its attribution has not been determined.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.80
