Saint Luke
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Saint Luke in the fresco on the right-hand side of the oratory in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. On the right, Francisco Bayeu depicted the Adoration of the Shepherds. 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, he portrayed the Visitation and this one, 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 Evangelist and Solomon. The Museo del Prado keeps several related preparatory drawings. The figure is depicted standing and facing forwards. He is wearing a mantle and his right arm is raised. The study of the clothing is very thorough, whilst the head and limbs are only sketched out provisionally.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos. II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.107-108
