(Saint-Hippolyte 1628–1679 Rome)
Study for the Finding of Moses and the allegory for a river (recto), head study of a bearded man and composition sketches for the “Martyrdom of Saint Andrew” on the reverse, red and black chalk, on laid paper, 22,2 x 34,5 cm, browned, somewhat stained, mounted, unframed, (Sch)

Provenance:
Collection Giancarlo Sestieri, Rome.

The present double-sided study shows various figure- and composition sketches, which the artist may have executed in preparation of several paintings. The red chalk study for the “Martyrdom of Saint Andreas” may represent an early idea for the painting on the high altar of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale in Rome (1668). The positions of the figures are widely in accordance with the composition of the painting. The detail study of the head may have also been sketched in connection with the painting. The sketch for the “Finding of Moses” in black chalk on the recto of the sheet may have been executed in preparation of a later composition. The sketched angel and figure at the outer right margin of the sheet may point to an annunciation scene. Born in France in Saint-Hippolyte, Départment Doubs, Guillaume Courtois was active as a history- and figure painter mainly in Rome and worked together with his brothers Jacques Courtois (Giacomo Cortese) and Jean-Francois Courtois, who were also painters. After sojourns in Milan, Bologna, Venice, Florence and Siena Guillaume Courtois settled in Rome presumably around 1638, where he entered the workshop of Pietro da Cortona. Apart from Cortona’s influence Courtois’ artistic style was affected by works of Agostino Carracci, Giovanni Lanfranco and Pier Francesco Mola, with whom the artist collaborated together with Gaspard Dughet, Francesco Cozza und Giovanni Battista Tassi on the decoration for the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj in Valmontone around 1658/59. Courtois spent the majority of his career in Rome, where he died 1679.

We are grateful to Prof. Francesco Grisolia for the scientific support