Shepherd
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on green paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of a shepherd on the left-hand side of the fresco Adoration of the Shepherds 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 cupola interior and Adoration of the Shepherds on the side walls. Saint Luke appears on the right. 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 among Saint John the Evangelist and Solomon. The Museo del Prado keeps various related preparatory drawings. The figure is depicted standing, with his body inclined and in right profile, holding a stick in his right hand. His head, left arm and legs are only lightly sketched.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos. II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.103
