 |
| Guercino God the Father with Archangel Gabriel ca. 1648 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
Yesterday Michael Roethlisberger described the fate of two thousand drawings formerly belonging to Queen Christina of Sweden, now in Teylers Museum in Haarlem, Netherlands. Christina abdicated the Swedish throne after converting to Catholicism in her mid-twenties. Pope Alexander VII Chigi welcomed her with great pomp to Rome in 1655. There she remained (in her baroque palace) for the next thirty-five years, earning a great reputation as an arts patron. The famous Guercino would have been in his mid-sixties at the time she arrived in Italy.
"Guercino was honoured with a visit from Christina, Queen of Sweden, who endeavoured to prevail upon the artist to quit Bologna, but her persuasions met with no better success than the pressing invitations to the same effect which he had received from the sovereigns of England and France. The Queen paid him the delicate compliment of soliciting permission to touch the hand which had produced so many beautiful works."
– from Lights and Shadows of Artist Life and Character by James Smith (London: R. Bentley, 1853)
 |
| Guercino Old man and young man conversing ca. 1624-30 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Young woman and old woman conversing ca. 1630-35 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Young man and old man conversing ca. 1640-50 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Amnon and Tamar ca. 1625-30 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino David and Abigail ca. 1625-27 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Apostle Paul facing left ca. 1630-50 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Lucretia ca. 1650 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Kneeling young woman offering doves ca. 1625-30 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Angel looking down from cloud ca. 1635-36 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Study of young man with drapery ca. 1640-55 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| attributed to Guercino Study of young woman with drapery ca. 1650 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Study of old man ca. 1630-50 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Guercino Young woman facing right ca. 1630-50 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |