Giovanni Battista Castello, il Bergamasco (Gandino ca. 1509-1579 Madrid)
Giovanni Battista Castello, il Bergamasco (Gandino ca. 1509-1579 Madrid)

Design for an altar

Details
Giovanni Battista Castello, il Bergamasco (Gandino ca. 1509-1579 Madrid)
Design for an altar
black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash, watermark twin-tailed mermaid
15 7/8 x 10 ½ in. (40.3 x 20.6 cm.)
Provenance
Zaccaria Sagredo (1653-1729), Venice, his inscription 'S.F. n. 72' (for 'Scuola Fiorentina') (L. 2103a).

Brought to you by

Furio Rinaldi
Furio Rinaldi

Lot Essay

Formerly in the Sagredo collection, this large and richly elaborate design is a rare example of Castello's talent as an architect, sculptor and designer. Depicting a church altar in elevation, featuring mascarons and two putti flanking the dove of the Holy Spirit, it was likely conceived for a Genoese patrician commision. Together with Cambiaso, Castello established the local drawing tradition, with flowing ink lines conveying a rich and opulant decorative style.

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