Ox Heads
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on green paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for two ox heads for the fresco of the Adoration of the Magi in the Chapel of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. On the cupola interior, 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 above the door. On the walls on either side of the small window, he depicted The Visitation and the Flight into Egypt. Finally, on the cupola interior 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. The Museo del Prado keeps various related preparatory drawings. This drawing depicts the study of two heads. On the left, there is a three-quarter head turned to the right of the drawing. The one on the right is depicted from the front. Both studies are very thorough.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos. II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.105-106
