Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Naples 1598-1680 Rome), Design for a funerary medallion with Death standing by a sarcophagus

Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Naples 1598-1680 Rome)
Design for a funerary medallion with Death standing by a sarcophagus
inscribed by the artist in pen and ink 'La presente figura sarebbe di marmo biancho tutto, agguisa duna / medaglia di bassisimo rilievo .. perché sarebbe piu eterno / e di questa opera . le figure averà che fossero grande / quanto il naturale'
black chalk, pen and brown ink, watermark anchor in a circle
8 ½ x 7 7/8 in. (21.4 x 19.8 cm)

Provenance

with Marcello Aldega and Margot Gordon, New York and Rome (Italian Drawings XVI to XVIII Century, 1988, no. 23).