Study of Hands (recto); Study for a Reclining St. Francis (verso)

ca. 1628–30

Not on view

This powerful study of hands, drawn after a live model, was used by Crespi for several of his fresco portraits of Carthusian monks at the Chartreuse of Garegnano, in the outskirts of Milan. Repertory drawings such as this one that could be referenced in the making of several figures helped the artist complete the large frescoes in a short amount of time, between 1628 and 1630. The decoration of the Milan Chartreuse, Crespi’s most celebrated achievement as a painter, occurred right before his sudden death in 1630. Datable around the same time (ca.1628) is the lively red-chalk study for St. Frances drawn on the verso of the same sheet: it relates to the same reclining figure in Crespi's altarpice depicting 'The Virgin and Child, St. Francis, St. Charles Borromeo and a donor', formerly in Pavia and now in the Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan. (F.R., 2015)

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Study of Hands (recto); Study for a Reclining St. Francis (verso)
Artist: Daniele Crespi (Italian, Busto Arsizio 1597/1600–1630 Milan)
Date: ca. 1628–30
Medium: Red and white chalk on blue paper (recto); red chalk on blue paper (verso)
Dimensions: Sheet: 8 1/8 in. × 11 in. (20.7 × 28 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2015
Object Number: 2015.15a, b
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Daniele Crespi

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Raymond Diocrès Speaking During His Funeral (from the Life of Saint Bruno of Cologne), Daniele Crespi Italian, Pen and dark brown ink, brush and brown wash, highlighted with white gouache, over soft black chalk or leadpoint — Raymond Diocrès Speaking During His Funeral (from the Life of Saint Bruno of Cologne)
Daniele Crespi
1628–29

Putti with a Mitre, Crosier Mace, Book, and Candle, Daniele Crespi Italian, Pen and brown ink on faded blue paper — Putti with a Mitre, Crosier Mace, Book, and Candle
Daniele Crespi
1597–1630

Saint John the Baptist, Saint Benedict, King David, and Other Seated Figures, Daniele Crespi Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash — Saint John the Baptist, Saint Benedict, King David, and Other Seated Figures
Daniele Crespi
1597–1630

Putti with a Small Keyboard Instrument and Music Books, Daniele Crespi Italian, Pen and brown ink — Putti with a Small Keyboard Instrument and Music Books
Daniele Crespi
1597–1630

Youth Playing a Pipe for a Satyr, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Il Grechetto) Italian, Brush with colored oil paint; paper partly saturated with oil; lined — Youth Playing a Pipe for a Satyr
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Il Grechetto)
1645–50

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.