The Adoration of the Shepherds

Details

Bernardo Castello (Genoa 1557-1629)
The Adoration of the Shepherds
dated '1583' (lower right)
black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash heightened with white on blue paper
10 1/8 X 7 ½ in. (25.8 x 19 cm)

Provenance

Nicos Dhikeos (1896-1987), Cyprus and Lyon (L. 3529, recto and verso); Christie's, New York, 12 January 1988, lot 5 (as G.B. Castello).

Literature

C. Di Fabio, Gio Battista Castello 'Il Genovese'. Miniatura e devozione a Genova fra Cinque e Seicento, exhib. cat., Genoa, Palazzo Bianco, 1990, p. 22, fig. IV (as G.B. Castello).
N. Strasser, Dessins italiens de la Renaissance au siècle des Lumières. Collection Jean Bonna, Geneva, 2010, no. 61, ill.

Brought to you by

Furio Rinaldi

frinaldi@christies.com +1 212 636 2328

Lot Essay

This lively study was made by Castello in preparation for his early painting The Adoration of the Shepherds in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, dated 1582 (inv. 37.1929; see F. Zeri, Italian Paintings in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, 1976, no. 299, ill.). The sheet was kept in the studio, dated 1583, and reused for similar paintings now in Savona and Detroit. In its organized structure, the drawing still shows the influence of Castello's first master Andrea Semino.

More from Old Master & British Drawings Including Works from the Collection of Jean Bonna

View All