Kneeling Knight
1779. Red chalk, White chalk on grey paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure in the lower-right part of the fresco The Transfer of the Remains of Saint Eugene in the cloister of Toledo Cathedral. Three preparatory sketches for the fresco are extant: one in Toledo Cathedral, another in the Ena Collection in Zaragoza and a third in a private collection in Madrid. The Museo del Prado keeps several related drawings.
The figure is depicted kneeling facing forwards, with his head in left profile. He is dressed according to 16th-century fashion. His arms appear outstretched, holding his slouch hat in his right hand. The study of the clothing is very thorough. When comparing this drawing with the fresco and the sketch in Toledo Cathedral, it is clear that they all depict the same figure. However, in the drawing, the figure is complete, whereas in both the fresco and the sketch, his body is obscured by other figures.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.69
