Head for the Figure of Saint Elizabeth
1791.Not on display
This is a preparatory drawing for the figure of Saint Elizabeth in the fresco The Visitation in the chapel of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Ramón Bayeu made an etched print this fresco, now in the Calcografía Nacional. On the cupola, Francisco Bayeu depicted the Eternal Father on the throne surrounded by angels and seraphim. On the side walls, the Adoration of the Shepherds is depicted. Saint Luke appears on the right. The Adoration of the Magi and Saint Matthew are depicted on the frontispiece and two groups of angels appear on a painting over the door. On the walls on either side of the small window, Bayeu depicted The Visitation and The Flight into Egypt. Finally, on the ceiling located in the small room where the altar is situated, he depicted the Holy Spirit surrounded by angels between Saint John the Evangelist and Solomon. The Museo del Prado keeps several related preparatory drawings.
This drawing is a study of the figure’s head. It is depicted in right profile and with a knotted kerchief on her head. The Museum keeps the preparatory drawing (D00598) for the whole figure.
Arnáez, Rocío, Catálogo de Dibujos II. Dibujos españoles siglo XVIII. A-B, Madrid, 1975, p.102
