ticketsMember | Make a donation

Study for Nude Male Figures Supporting a Frame and Plan of the Ceiling Decoration of Palazzo Altieri, Rome

1625–1713
Not on view
During the pontificate of Clement X Altieri (1670–1676), his family palace on the Piazza del Gesù in Rome was enlarged and redecorated. The leading Baroque artist in Rome, Carlo Maratti was commissioned to paint the main room between 1674 and 1677, but only the fresco that fills the long, narrow central section of the vault was executed. The undecorated portions of the vault were to contain allegorical figures representing Religion, Faith, Divine Wisdom, and Evangelical Truth. A document for this never-completed project, this sheet was related by Walter Vitzthum in 1965 to Maratti's plan for the decoration of the vault of the Great Hall in the Palazzo Altieri; on the London market the drawing had been attributed to Pietro da Cortona. The nude male figures are studies for those that appear painted in grisaille and supporting the corners of the frame of the central fresco composition, the Allegory of Clemency (see Schiavo, pl. 34). The frame of this central panel is indicated to the right, as are-in a very summary fashion-the spandrels of the vault.

For other preparatory studies by Carlo Maratti for the decoration of Palazzo Altieri in the Metropolitan Museum of Art see inv. nos. 64.295.1 and 61.169 (Virtue crowned by Honor), 66.53.3 (Allegory of Peace), 66.137 (Allegory of Divine Wisdom or Divina Sapienza), and 2008.334.1 (Study of a Putto).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Study for Nude Male Figures Supporting a Frame and Plan of the Ceiling Decoration of Palazzo Altieri, Rome
  • Artist: Carlo Maratti (Italian, Camerano 1625–1713 Rome)
  • Date: 1625–1713
  • Medium: Pen and brown ink, some brush and brown wash, over black chalk
  • Dimensions: 7 7/16 x 10 1/8in. (18.9 x 25.7cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1965
  • Object Number: 65.206
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Figure of Young Man or Woman in Bust-length, in Three-Quarter View, Carlo Maratti Italian, Black chalk on gray prepared paper
Figure of Young Man or Woman in Bust-length, in Three-Quarter View
Carlo Maratti
1700–1713
Virgin and Child with St. Mary Magdalen, Carlo Maratti Italian, Etching; second state of four (Bartsch)
Virgin and Child with St. Mary Magdalen
Carlo Maratti
The Marriage of St. Catherine, Carlo Maratti Italian, Etching; in between the first and second state of five
The Marriage of St. Catherine
Carlo Maratti
The Christ Child adored by angels
Carlo Maratti
La recompense des Sciences, Carlo Maratti Italian, Etching
La recompense des Sciences
Carlo Maratti
1640–1713

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.