(1648-1729) Diana and Endymion, pen and brown ink, brown wash, on laid paper, 26 x 26,5 cm, watermark "star in a circle", mounted, unframed, (Sch)

Provenance: collector’s mark Giuseppe Vallardi (Lugt 1223).

The present drawing is related to the painting "Diana and Endymion" by Franceschini in the Palazzo Podestà-Bruzzo in Genova (Miller 2001, p. 189, fig. 87d),. The painting which is part of a series with scenes from the life of Diana was assigned to the artist by Stefano Pallavicino in 1722. The painting and two other scenes "Birth of Diana and Apoll" and "Diana and Pan" were mounted in the overdoors of the so-called "Stanza di Diana“, where it is still in situ. The composition was painted in the reverse direction to the painting which could point to its usage for print reproduction. However, it is well known that Franceschini’s design goes back to a composition with the same subject by Guercino (Bassano di Sutri, Palazzo Giustiniani, Miller 2001, p. 191, fig. 87 g). It seems also likely that Franceschini first made a variant of Guercino’s version in preparation of a painting and then changed his plans and altered the arrangement of the figures.

Literature: Dwight C. Miller, Marcantonio Franceschini, Turin 2011, p. 189, fig. 87d, p. 191, fig. 87 g).