Three Hands
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on yellow paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of an angel in the fresco painted on the cupola interior of the small altar of the Chapel of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Francisco Bayeu depicted the Eternal Father on the throne surrounded by angels and seraphim. The side walls bear a depiction of the Adoration of the Shepherds; on the right, Saint Luke; on the frontispiece, The Adoration of the Magi and Saint Matthew; and in a painting over the door, there are two groups of angels. On the walls on either side of the small window, the artist depicted The Visitation and the Flight into Egypt. Finally, on the cupola interior located in the small room where the altar is situated, there is a fresco of the Holy Spirit surrounded by angels amongst Saint John the Evangelist and Solomon. The Museo del Prado holds various related preparatory drawings. The position of the hands was studied for the angel, although there is one hand intended for another figure in the same fresco. The two holding a staff on the right are intended for the figure of the angel.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos. II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.107
