Holy Bishop before a Magistrate
Second half of the XVIII century.Not on display
On the left, the magistrate, crowned with laurel and armed, receives the monk, who approaches him respectfully. Behind the saint, there is an acolyte with the bishop’s mitre, and others carry his crosier and books. It has an architectural background. The composition is framed within a semi-circular arch.
The drawing seems to be a companion –in model, character and proportions– to the drawings of Saint Augustine (D000676–D000677). It also possibly depicts an episode from the life of the Bishop of Hippo, in which case it could have been drawn with the intention of decorating the church of the Encarnación in Madrid.
Pérez Sánchez, Alfonso E., Museo del Prado, Catálogo de Dibujos, III. Dibujos Españoles. Siglo XVIII. C-Z, Madrid, 1977, p.23
