Marble
University of Notre Dame
Loading navigation...

Study of a Group of Figures

Date

ca. 1658

Creator

Elisabetta Sirani

Location

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

The Snite study represents a figure group done in preparation for Sirani's Baptism of Christ in the Church of San Girolamo della Certose, Bologna completed in 1658. Sirani was commissioned by Daniele Granchi, prior of the church from 1644-1660, to complete the fresco as part of a series on the life of Christ painted by prominent Bolognese artist. The commission was a great honor for Sirani, considering her young age, and because it was her first major public commission, and the largest of her entire career. Spanning four meters by five meters, the painting is filled with a multitude of figures witnessing Christ's baptism by Saint John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The figures in the drawing can be identified with the figures seen in the lower right foreground of the painting, although some of their positions and poses have been subtly altered. from Coleman, Seminar in Italian Drawings (Notre Dame, 2009)

Cite This
The Snite study represents a figure group done in preparation for Sirani's Baptism of Christ in the Church of San Girolamo della Certose, Bologna completed in 1658. Sirani was commissioned by Daniele Granchi, prior of the church from 1644-1660, to complete the fresco as part of a series on the life of Christ painted by prominent Bolognese artist. The commission was a great honor for Sirani, considering her young age, and because it was her first major public commission, and the largest of her entire career. Spanning four meters by five meters, the painting is filled with a multitude of figures witnessing Christ's baptism by Saint John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The figures in the drawing can be identified with the figures seen in the lower right foreground of the painting, although some of their positions and poses have been subtly altered. from Coleman, Seminar in Italian Drawings (Notre Dame, 2009)
Open external viewer application
  • The Snite study represents a figure group done in preparation for Sirani's Baptism of Christ in the Church of San Girolamo della Certose, Bologna completed in 1658. Sirani was commissioned by Daniele Granchi, prior of the church from 1644-1660, to complete the fresco as part of a series on the life of Christ painted by prominent Bolognese artist. The commission was a great honor for Sirani, considering her young age, and because it was her first major public commission, and the largest of her entire career. Spanning four meters by five meters, the painting is filled with a multitude of figures witnessing Christ's baptism by Saint John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The figures in the drawing can be identified with the figures seen in the lower right foreground of the painting, although some of their positions and poses have been subtly altered. from Coleman, Seminar in Italian Drawings (Notre Dame, 2009)
  • The Snite study represents a figure group done in preparation for Sirani's Baptism of Christ in the Church of San Girolamo della Certose, Bologna completed in 1658. Sirani was commissioned by Daniele Granchi, prior of the church from 1644-1660, to complete the fresco as part of a series on the life of Christ painted by prominent Bolognese artist. The commission was a great honor for Sirani, considering her young age, and because it was her first major public commission, and the largest of her entire career. Spanning four meters by five meters, the painting is filled with a multitude of figures witnessing Christ's baptism by Saint John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The figures in the drawing can be identified with the figures seen in the lower right foreground of the painting, although some of their positions and poses have been subtly altered. from Coleman, Seminar in Italian Drawings (Notre Dame, 2009)
Elisabetta Sirani (Italian, 1638 - 1665)
ca. 1658
Drawings
Pen and brown ink and wash over red chalk on off-white paper
1999.068
baptisms
Bible, New Testament
Not on view, please request access
8 1/8 x 8 1/4 in. (20.64 x 20.8 cm)
Gift of John D. Reilly, ND '63, '64

Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.