Head for the Figure of Saint Joseph
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Saint Joseph for the fresco The Flight into Egypt in the chapel of the Royal Palace in Aranjuez. On the cupola, Francisco Bayeu depicted the Eternal Father on the throne surrounded by angels and seraphim. On the side walls, the Adoration of the Shepherds is depicted. Saint Luke appears on the right. The Adoration of the Magi and Saint Matthew are depicted 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, the artist depicted The Visitation and this one, the Flight into Egypt. Finally, on the cupola located in the small room where the altar is situated, he depicted the Holy Spirit surrounded by angels between Saint John the Evangelist and Solomon. This is a study of the figure’s bearded head, depicted in profile and turned to the right. The head study is very thorough. The Museo del Prado keeps various related preparatory drawings, and there is also a preparatory sketch of this fresco in a private collection in Barcelona. The preparatory sketch in Barcelona is attributed to Maella. Camarón made an etching of the fresco.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.106
