Saint Paul
1781. White chalk, Red chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Saint Paul in the lower central part of the cupola interior of the fresco Regina Apostolorum. This fresco was painted in 1781 and located in the left-hand nave of the Holy Chapel of the Basilica of the Pilar in Zaragoza. For the same fresco, the Museo Diocesano in Zaragoza has two of the preparatory sketches, one of which is in grisaille. In the Museo del Prado, there are several preparatory drawings for the same fresco.
This drawing depicts a standing figure facing the front, with his right arm raised. In the fresco, this figure is pointing to the Virgin and rests his left arm on his waist. The study of the cloak is very thorough, whereas the figure’s extremities are barely sketched out.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos. II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.78
