Two Angel Figures
1781. White chalk, Red chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for two angels that accompany the Virgin, intended for the lower-central part of the cupola interior of the fresco Regina Prophetarum, painted in 1781 and located in the right-hand nave of the Holy Chapel of the Basilica of the Pilar in Zaragoza. The Museo Diocesano in Zaragoza keeps two preparatory sketches, one of them in grisaille. There are also several preparatory drawings for the fresco in the Museo del Prado.
The two figures are depicted in a flying pose; the one on the left has his left arm outstretched, and the one on the right also has his arm outstretched, but raised. The study of the cloth is very thorough, whereas the figures are barely sketched. The Museo del Prado keeps the preparatory drawing for the head of the angel on the left (D000506).
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.145-146
