Phaeton driving the Quadriga

Artist/Maker

Material / Technique

Dimensionsh x w: Mått 33,8 x 51,2 cm h x w x d: Ram 55 x 70 x 3,5 cm

Inventory numberNMH 161/1863

AcqusitionTransferred 1866 from Kongl. Museum (Carl Gustaf Tessin)

Other titlesTitle (sv): Phaeton kör fyrspannet Title (en): Phaeton driving the Quadriga Inventory title (sv): Solens vagn

DescriptionDescription: Vertical fold. Repaired tears at the left and the right margins Laid down Numbered in pen and brown ink: 120. (Sparre). Inscribed in pen and brown ink at top: Il Carro de' Sole, at lower right: Salviati, at lower centre: G. In 1585 Allori was paid by the ducal treasury for a series of tapestries illustrating the story told by Ovid of Helios (Sol), the sun-god, and his son, Phaeton, who foolishly attempted to drive his father's chariot across the sky. The present highly finished sheet is typical of Allori's style around 1575-1585 and may be related to that project, although our scene does not correspond precisely to any one of the six cartoons listed in the archival sources. However, in several details the sheet compares to Allori's other drawings for the Phaeton series. The design of Sol's quadriga, and the drapery and hair style of Phaeton, compare to the same details in Allori's drawing for "Apollo exhibits the Quadriga to Phaeton" (Uffizi 1489F). A reminder of the function of Sol's daily journey across the sky, an hourglass, appears at the bottom centre of the tapestry border, of which Allori has drawn only the left half. The border is replete with swags, masks, animals, and figures that are very close to those in many of Allori's tapestry borders and decorative designs, in particular the two border studies in the Uffizi, 989E and 990E (also previously attributed to Salviati), and Allori's nearly contemporary frescoes in the salone at Poggio a Caiano (15781582) [Bjurström, It. Drawings, cat. no. 1102]

Collection

Geographical origin

MaterialInk, Paper, Black chalk (Crayon)

TechniqueWash drawing, Drawing

Object category