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Description: Helena the Spartan Virgin, Is Sacrified. No watermark. Inscribed at lower right in pen and brown ink: ant. Zanchi. Numbered at lower right: 56 (struck out) 1336. (Sparre, struck out), 1337 (Sparre).

The starting point chosen by Pignatti for an analysis of Zanchi's art as a draughtsman is a sheet in Museo Civico, Bassano; this is a relatively late work, from the beginning of the 18th century. 

Our drawing is more similar in style to a Madonna with St. Peter and St. Paul in the Los Angeles County Museum. A third example of the thick wash and shadow effects has been noted by Bettagno in a copy after Paolo Veronese in Fondazione Cini. Much the same stylistic characteristics are also present in the next number here. 

This drawing no doubt dates from before the turn of the century. It would be difficult at present to be more specific and it should be noted that the same technique occurs in later work where the forms dissolve and the drawing takes on a more painterly charachter, as in "The Presentation in the Temple" in the Uffizi.

The motif is unusual. Jupiter is shown in clouds on the left, sending his eagle to intevene in the sacrifice. The incident is described by Plutarch, "Moralia". "Parallel Lives 35": Sparta was suffering from a plague and the oracle declared that it would cease if a virgin was sacrificed annually. When Helena had been brought to the altar, the eagle seized the knife and dropped it into a heifer, so that from then on a cow was sacrified instead. [Bjurström, It. Drawings, cat. no. 150]

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Antonio Zanchi | Helena, jungfrun från Sparta, offras | Nationalmuseum

Antonio Zanchi | Helena, the Spartan Virgin, Is Sacrified | Nationalmuseum

Titel (sv): Helena, jungfrun från Sparta, offras
Titel (en): Helena, the Spartan Virgin, Is Sacrified
Titel i inventariet (sv): Allegori. Knäböjande qvinna. En dam håller ett svärd
Helena, Jungfrun från Sparta, offras

Title (sv): Helena, jungfrun från Sparta, offras
Title (en): Helena, the Spartan Virgin, Is Sacrified
Inventory title (sv): Allegori. Knäböjande qvinna. En dam håller ett svärd
Helena, Jungfrun från Sparta, offras