Currently not on view

Study for the Fall of the Giants,

ca. 1528–33

Perino del Vaga (Pietro Buonaccorsi), Italian, 1501–1547
x1977-119

One of Raphael’s most gifted followers, Perino del Vaga spent a decade in Genoa, where he decorated the chief residence of Prince Andrea Doria. One of the centerpieces was the ceiling fresco Fall of the Giants; this drawing represents the only visual evidence for the evolution of its influential design. The fresco depicts a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, in which Jupiter punishes the rebellious giants, hurling a thunderbolt down upon them after their attempt to destroy Mount Olympus with boulders. While the overall design has been established, the artist has not yet clearly separated the victors from the vanquished, and most of the gods and goddesses in the upper portion are difficult to distinguish.

Information

Title
Study for the Fall of the Giants
Dates

ca. 1528–33

Medium
Pen and brown ink with later additions of pen and black ink, heightened with modern white gouache over older lead white (partially oxidized) on prepared salmon pink tan laid paper
Dimensions
23.6 × 39.4 cm (9 5/16 × 15 1/2 in.) frame: 46.5 × 61.6 × 2.9 cm (18 5/16 × 24 1/4 × 1 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, Laura P. Hall Memorial Fund
Object Number
x1977-119
Culture
Type