Saint Germanus of Auxerre restoring his donkey to life, ca. 1635 – 1640

Blatt: 265 x 222 mm

Physical Description: Two different red chalks, washed

Inventory Number: 490

Object Number: 490 Z

Status: On display, Department of Prints and Drawings Exhibition Gallery

Texts

About the Work

The drawing’s subject is little known and accordingly difficult to decipher. The main figure is Bishop Germanus. According to the legend, he rode to Ravenna on a feeble donkey to present the people’s pleas to the emperor. Here we see the episode in which he brings his dead steed back to life for the return journey. Sacchi pursued a classical approach distinguished by simplicity and clarity.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Saint Germanus of Auxerre restoring his donkey to life

Draughtsman

Andrea Sacchi

Period Produced

17th century

School

Baroque

Object Type

drawing

Physical Description: Two different red chalks, washed

Material

Technique

Geographic Reference

Roman

Production Reason

Pictorial drawing

Captions Added Later: Beschriftet unten links der Mitte (mit der Feder in Braun): André Sacchi, unten rechts: 140 und Paraphe (Antoine-Joseph Dezallier
d’Argenville L. 2951); auf dem Auflagekarton unten mittig (mit Grafit): Andrea Sacchi fec.
Auf der Rückseite (auf dem Auflagekarton) im unteren Blattdrittel in der Mitte Stempel des Städelschen Kunstinstituts (L. 2356); unten links (mit der Feder in Schwarz): No. 5 } No. 12. Andrea Sacchi.