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Design for a Wall Decoration: Representations of the Ascension and of the Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch

ca. 1600
Not on view
In the scene at left Christ ascends into a bank of clouds, having left his footprints on the summit of the Mount of Olives. At right of center Saint Philip has joined the Eunuch in his chariot and explains the passage of Isaiah the Ethiopian is reading, while in the background Saint Philip is seen baptizing his convert (Acts 8:26-40). The "bretessed bend" and the stars of the Aldobrandini arms that appear above the figure of Saint Philip could identify this project as a never-executed scheme commissioned by or proposed to Pope Clement VIII Aldobrandini, who reigned from 1592 to 1605. The convincing attribution to Giovanni de' Vecchi for this large, vibrant design for a wall decoration was first proposed by Philip Pouncey in 1965.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Design for a Wall Decoration: Representations of the Ascension and of the Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch
  • Artist: Giovanni de' Vecchi (Italian, Borgo Sansepolcro 1536/37–1615 Rome)
  • Date: ca. 1600
  • Medium: Pen and brown ink, over black chalk (architectural elements); red chalk, pen and brown ink, traces of black chalk (narrative scenes)
  • Dimensions: 12-5/16 x 21-7/16 in. (31.3 x 54.4 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1880
  • Object Number: 80.3.651
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Standing Figure of Saint Peter Holding Book and Keys., Giovanni de' Vecchi Italian, Pen and two shades of brown ink, brush and pale brown wash, over traces of black chalk
Standing Figure of Saint Peter Holding Book and Keys.
Giovanni de' Vecchi
1536/7–1615
Esther and Mordecai before King Ahasuerus (Esther 8:1- 12), Giovanni de' Vecchi Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over black chalk
Esther and Mordecai before King Ahasuerus (Esther 8:1- 12)
Giovanni de' Vecchi
1536/7–1615
Saint John the Evangelist, Giovanni de' Vecchi Italian, Pen and dark brown ink, extensively highlighted with white, over black chalk, on beige paper; squared in black chalk
Saint John the Evangelist
Giovanni de' Vecchi
1598–99
Lucretia, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) Italian, Pen and brown ink over black chalk, partially incised with a stylus (recto); rubbed with black chalk for transfer (verso)
Lucretia
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
1508–10
Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso), Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia) Italian, Pen and brown ink, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (recto); pen and brown ink, brush with touches of brown wash, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (verso)
Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso)
Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia)
1435–38

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