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Bernhard von Neher (1806-86)

The head of one of the Three Graces c.1861

Pastel | 44.0 x 33.5 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 853991

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  • A copy in pastels by Professor von Neher of a drawing depicting the head of one of the Graces. The Three Graces were part of the fresco of the Banquet of the Gods in the vault of the entrance loggia of the Farnesina, Agostino Chigi's villa in Rome, which was frescoed with mythological subjects by Raphael's workshop c.1518.

    Ruland (1876) notes that this drawing was in the possession of Professor von Neher, the Director of the Stuttgart School of Art, identifying it with the pastel by Le Brun "mentioned in Crozat's catalogue, n.111". This is the Description sommaire des dessins des grands maistres d'Italie.. sale catalogue of Crozat's collection written by Mariette (1741). Ruland and Passavant describe this as a cartoon-fragment probably misunderstanding the sale catalogue which also mentions a cartoon in the same auction lot. Therefore, it is possible that Von Neher acquired the pastel by Le Brun after the dispersion of Crozat's collection. According to a letter among the Raphael Correspondence (RA VIC/ADDA10/85/486, dated 12 May 1861), Neher also made a copy of the head for Ludwig Grüner.

    The fresco decoration in the Farnesina illustrates the classical fable of Cupid and Psyche, a story which was also frequently used to decorate Florentine wedding chests. Raphael's fresco scheme comprises two primary scenes in the vault (painted to resemble tapestries), accompanied by a series of episodes painted in the pendentives. The whole is encompassed within a fictive pergola, which gives the viewer the impression of looking up into the heavens. Only the upper part of the loggia is painted (the vault and its supporting pendentives and spandrels).
    Provenance

    Added to the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)

  • Medium and techniques

    Pastel

    Measurements

    44.0 x 33.5 cm (sheet of paper)

  • Object type(s)