Zechariah
1791. White chalk, Black chalk on dark toned paper.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Zechariah in the fresco on The Visitation in the Chapel of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. This fresco was engraved by Ramón Bayeu through an etching technique and is kept in the Calcografía Nacional. On the cupola interior, Francisco Bayeu depicted the Eternal Father on the throne surrounded by angels and seraphim. On the side walls, the Adoration of the Shepherds is represented. Saint Luke appears on the right. 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 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 between Saint John the Evangelist and Solomon. The Museo del Prado has various related preparatory drawings. In this work, the figure is studied and depicted standing towards the left of the drawing, with his head turned to the opposite side. The study of the clothing is very thorough, whereas the limbs and head are barely sketched out.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos. II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.102
