Saint John the Evangelist
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on blue paper.Not on display
It is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Saint John the Evangelist in the fresco painted in the Chapel of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. On the side walls, the Adoration of the Shepherds is represented. 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 themes of 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 this Saint John the Evangelist and Solomon. The Museo del Prado has various related preparatory drawings. In this work, the figure is depicted seated and facing the front. The study of the clothing is very thorough, whereas the figure is only sketched.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.108
