Details
AFTER BARTOLOMÉ ESTEBAN MURILLO
Saint Francis embracing Christ on the Cross
oil on canvas, unframed
2912 x 1958 in. (74.4 x 49.8 cm.)
inscribed 'INRI' (upper center, at the top of the cross)
Provenance
with William Cox, Pall Mall, London, where acquired in 1883 by,
George Salting, Esq. (1835-1909), London.
with Sedelmeyer Gallery, Paris.
Adolf Liebermann von Wahlendorf (1829-1893), Berlin; his deceased sale, J.M. Heberle (H. Lempertz), Cologne, 12 March 1894, lot 96, as Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
with Sedelmeyer Gallery, Paris, by 1898, as Murillo, where acquired on 15 September 1906 by,
Archer Milton Huntington (1870-1955), New York, and by whom presented in 1908 to the Hispanic Society of America.
Literature
C.B. Curtis, Velazquez and Murillo, New York and London, 1883, no. 289, as a 'repetition' of the Seville painting.
Sedelmeyer Gallery, Illustrated catalogue of 300 paintings by Old Masters of the Dutch, Flemish, Italian, French, and English schools, being some of the principal pictures which have at various times formed part of the Sedelmeyer Gallery, Paris, 1898, p. 279, no. 253, illustrated, as Murillo.
A.L. Mayer, Murillo, des Meisters Gemälde in 287 Abbildungen, Stuttgart and Berlin, 1913, p. 288, no. S.152, illustrated, as possibly an autograph sketch for the Seville painting or a good studio replica.
V. von Loga, 'Los Cuadros de la "Hispanic Society of America"', Museum, III, no. 4, 1913, p. 128, as probably an autograph study for the Seville painting.
Hispanic Society of America, List of Paintings, New York, 1925, no. A82, as Attributed to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
E. du Gué Trapier, Catalogue of Paintings (16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries) in the collection of the Hispanic Society of America, New York, 1929, p. 189-190, no. A82, illustrated, as School of Murillo.
Hispanic Society of America, School of Murillo in the Collection of the Hispanic Society of America, New York, 1930, no. A82.
D. Angulo Iñiguez, Murillo, catálogo crítico, II, Madrid, 1981, pp. 71-72, under no. 72.
M.A. Codding, 'A Legacy of Spanish Art for America: Archer M. Huntington and the Hispanic Society of America', Manet/Velázquez. The French Taste for Spanish Painting, G. Tinterow and G. Lacambre eds., exhibition catalogue, Madrid, 2003, p. 316.
Brought to you by

Lot Essay

This painting is an old copy with some variations of Murillo's Saint Francis embracing the crucified Christ in the Museo de Bellas Artes, Seville. The present composition lacks the angels at upper right of the Seville painting, and has a shorter inscription on the top of the cross, as well as different architectural elements in the lower background. In the late nineteenth century, the Hispanic Society's picture passed through the collection of George Salting, who, upon his death, bequeathed numerous masterpieces to the National Gallery, London, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum, including works by Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals and Andrea del Verrocchio.

Related Articles

Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.

More from
Property from the Hispanic Society Museum to Benefit the Collection Care and Acquisition Fund
Place your bid Condition report

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

I confirm that I have read this Important Notice regarding Condition Reports and agree to its terms. View Condition Report