(Rome 1702–1786)
The caricature of a writer, pen and brown ink, brown and grey wash, over pencil, on laid paper, watermark „bird on top of a trimount“, 31,2 x 21,8 cm, mounted, unframed, (Sch)

Provenance:
Collection Giancarlo Sestieri, Rome.

Carlo Marchionni was an architect, sculptor and draughtsman. He was active in Rome in the 18th century and was highly regarded in the artistic and intellectual circles of the city. He received his artistic formation in the Accademia di San Luca and was a pupil of the sculptor Filippo Bargioni who represented the style of Carlo Borromini which consequently also shaped Marchionni’s art. Cardinal Alessandro Albani was one of his earliest patrons and engaged the young artist to realize early architectural commissions such as the Villa Albani in Anzio and the Castel Gandolfo. Marchionni was appointed papal architect by Pope Benedict XIV and in this function was responsible for works related to the basilica. In 1766 the pope commissioned Marchionni to redesign the facade of the Museo Profano, which preserved the papal collection of antiques. The design for the new sacristy in St. Peter (1776-1784) and the design of the high altar and the tabernacle in Santa Maria a Magnanapoli (1787) were other prominent projects which Marchionni had to realize. In addition, he was also responsible for the furnishing and decoration of numerous churches in Rome, including Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Croce in Gerusalemme for which he created sculptures, reliefs and facade decorations. The majority of his drawings is related to architecture designs and presentation drawings for his patrons; apart from this Marchionni was also active as a caricaturist who took a humorous look at contemporary life and society of the 18th century. The present drawing with the caricature of a writer is comparable with drawings in two albums by Marchionni, which are preserved in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (vgl. Inv. 42280-42403). They are excellent examples for a lesser known field of activity in the work of the architect and sculptor.