The Departure of Saint Paula and Saint Eustochium for the Holy Land
The drawing is a squared study with minor variations for Bottani's monumental altarpiece now in the Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, signed and dated 1745 ( 410 x 231 cm; inv. 410). The painting, generally considered the artist's early masterpiece, was executed in Rome and commissioned by the Hieronymites for their now-destroyed Milanese church of Santi Cosma e Damiano. To the right of the Roman widow Paula stands her daughter Eustochium, who accompanied her to the Holy Land to join Saint Jerome. Paula's daughter Rufina kisses her mother's hand in farewell, and Paula's son Toxotius kneels at the right. In preparation of his large canvas, Bottani realized an highly finished oil sketch, also part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 1991.445). Like many of Bottani's drawings, at his death the sheet was collected and annotated on the bottom by the artist's brother Giovanni, who provided the year of its execution, 1740. (Furio Rinaldi)
Artwork Details
- Title: The Departure of Saint Paula and Saint Eustochium for the Holy Land
- Artist: Giuseppe Bottani (Italian, Cremona 1717–1784 Mantua)
- Date: 1740
- Medium: Red chalk; squared in black chalk
- Dimensions: 15 7/8 x 9 5/8in. (40.3 x 24.4cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Gift of John Morton Morris, 1987
- Object Number: 1987.245
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Giuseppe Bottani
Giuseppe Bottani
18th century
Giuseppe Bottani
18th century
Giuseppe Bottani
18th century
Giuseppe Bottani
18th century
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.