(1746–1831) The Lamentation of Christ, inscribed “Fuseli” at lower right margin on the reverse, brush, brown and blue ink, white heightenings, on ocre prepared laid paper, 50,2 x 37,5 cm, mounted, unframed, (Sch)

Provenance: Collector’s mark Heinz Grunert (Lugt 3985).

We are grateful to Thomas Ardill (Courtauld Institute, London) for the scientific support in cataloguing the present drawing.

According to him the drawing shows similarities with the painting “The Entombment” (1823) by James Northcote in St. Luke’s Church in Chelsea; the latter’s composition going back to Rubens’ version of “The Deposition” (1616–17) in the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille. In the drawing and in the painting by Northcote Christ appears in a similar pose. Even the anatomical proportions of the figures are comparable although they recall figures of Heinrich Füssli (1741–1825) who was a contemporary of Northcote.
According to Thomas Ardill, the “Entombment” in Chelsea was a second version of the theme; the first one was exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1822 and may have had an identical composition with the painting which he executed one year later. (See: James Northcote’s Sitters Book (MS), Heinz Archive and Library, National Portrait Gallery, MS 91, folio 41; and Fine Arts, Royal Academy, The Calcutta Journal of Politics and General Literature, Dec. 3, 1822, Vol. 6, Nr. 289, p. 444). There are no hints that Northcote painted further versions of “Lamentation”,”Deposition” or “Entombment”. However it seems likely that Northcote drew further studies for a third version, which he may have abandoned. In the 1820s his ongoing interest of Northcote in religious subjects and above all for the “Passion of Christ” was renewed in paintings. He shared this interest with many contemporaries and followers. Due to the missing evidence for the authenticity of the sheet it is not possible to ascribe the drawing with certainty to Northcote. Regarding the connections mentioned above it seems conceiveable that the study is another version of the two “first” “Entombments” and may have been executed in his immediate circle.