King David with Angels
The monumental seated figure of David who points downward as he receives inspiration from an angel at upper left dominates this scene; in the right background the youthful figure of an angel can be discerned playing the harp. This relatively finished, squared demonstration drawing (‘modello’) was preparatory for a fresco on one of the spandrels supporting the dome of Piacenza Cathedral, painted by Morazzone in 1625-26, shortly before his death. The frescoes were left unfinished by Morazzone and the remaining compartments were finished by Guercino. Among the only differences between study and finished work, the drawing omits the monumental flying figure of the angel bearing a scroll who is seen immediately below the seated David in the fresco. Probably secured through the intervention of Bishop Giovanni Linati, the frescoes by Morazzone are mentioned by a number of seventeenth-century authors, which attests to the prestige and importance of the commission (Giovanni Baglione in 1642, p. 186; Scaramuccia in 1674, p. 164; Carlo Malvasia in 1678, II, p. 367; and Filippo Baldinucci in 1681-1728, IV, ed. 1846, p. 653).
Born in the small Piedmontese town that gave him his nickname, Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli "Morazzone" was trained in Rome by the Sienese artist Ventura Salimbeni in the grand historical manner of painting, but was equally influenced by the Lombard tradition that also shaped Caravaggio. Morazzone's drawings and paintings are primarily about a naturalistic figural vocabulary and a pictorial, quite magical exploration of light. He was among the most significant North-Italian rivals of Caravaggio.
(Carmen C. Bambach, 2009)
Born in the small Piedmontese town that gave him his nickname, Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli "Morazzone" was trained in Rome by the Sienese artist Ventura Salimbeni in the grand historical manner of painting, but was equally influenced by the Lombard tradition that also shaped Caravaggio. Morazzone's drawings and paintings are primarily about a naturalistic figural vocabulary and a pictorial, quite magical exploration of light. He was among the most significant North-Italian rivals of Caravaggio.
(Carmen C. Bambach, 2009)
Artwork Details
- Title: King David with Angels
- Artist: Morazzone (Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli) (Italian, Morazzone 1573–?1626 Piacenza)
- Date: ca. 1625–26
- Medium: Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, highlighted with white gouache over traces of charcoal or black chalk; squared in red chalk on blue paper
- Dimensions: 10 7/16 x 8 11/16 in. (26.5 x 22.1 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. David M. Tobey Gift, 2001
- Object Number: 2001.118
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Morazzone (Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli)
ca. 1608
Morazzone (Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli)
16th century
Morazzone (Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli)
1573–1626
Thomas Girtin
1796–97
Giovanni Paolo Panini
ca. 1756–58
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.