Saturday, October 24, 2015

Cleopatra

Guercino
Cleopatra
1630s
drawing
British Museum

Even though the careers of Nicolas Poussin and Guercino ran roughly parallel in time and place, their paths hardly crossed and they shared no patrons. Both became leading painters while working off to one side of the Roman baroque mainstream. Many art historians have said that Poussin was the greatest French painter of the 17th century. Few  or perhaps none  have said that Guercino was the greatest Italian painter of the 17th century. Poussin (with his unassailable prestige) was not fated to be represented in this post. It is devoted exclusively to drawings by Guercino, the greatest Italian painter of the 17th century.  

Guercino
Angel
mid 1620s
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Cleopatra
c. 1635
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Youth in Profile
1640s
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Figure Study
17th century
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Exotic Figure with Casket
1630s
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Landscape with Fishermen
17th century
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Landscape with Reapers
c. 1635
drawing
Prado

Guercino
St Onophrius in the Wilderness
1640s
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
St Romuald
c. 1640
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
King David
1636
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
King David
1636
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Venus, Mars & Cupid
c. 1633
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Cupid restraining Mars
1630s
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Virgin & Child with St Anne
1620s
drawing
British Museum

Guercino
Four Children
17th century
British Museum