Jean-Luc Baroni's Il Guercino at Carlton Hobbs Antiques

We are thrilled Jean-Luc Baroni brought over to Carlton Hobbs gallery this

 most intriguing ink drawing by Giovanni-Francesco Barbieri, called  Il Guercino  (Cento 1591 – Bologna 1666) A Group of Spectators, probably at a Bullfight, peeping through a fence. This unique drawing with its surprising subject could well represent spectators catching a glimpse at a bullfight. It is stylistically datable to the 1630s, when bullfighting was still widely spread in Italy. In fact, this cruel spectacle has a roman origin, and it is thought that the Romans actually introduced it into Spain. In 1567, Pope Pius V issued a Papal bull which forbade the fight of bulls, and which eventually brought about prohibitions against bullfighting throughout Italy. It was not until the 19th century, however, that bullfighting disappeared altogether in Italy.

Spectators Hiding behind a Barricade

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Il Guercino

Cento 1591 - 1666 Bologna

Pen and brown ink and wash, within brown ink framing lines. The verso inscribed with a long letter and a sum. Also bear inscription by another hand: Guerchino. 

171 by 247 mm (6 3/49 by 9 3/4 in.)

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