Notes

The drawing of “Christ giving Communion to the Apostles” is the original sketch of the painting by the same name. The painting, which now remains in the Church Corpus Domini, located in Bologna Italy. Which also happens to be the artists, Marcantonio Franceschini, place of birth and activity.

Below you  can see the finished work, showcasing a supposed missing top half to the sketch. Along with where one can now see the work, hanging as the main altar piece in the Church Corpus Domini.

Franceschini has created a red sketch as a study for a full painting on several other occasions, specifically with his piece depicting a “pastoral scene” and on of ‘Rachel and Leah’. On the next page you can see the end result, a beautifully detailed painting. Which is accompanied by his sketch, also done in red chalk. This shows that the case of “Christ giving Communion to the Apostles”, is not a one off, but rather a significant part in Franceschini artistic process.

There remains the question of the exclusion of the top half of the painting from the sketch. The possible reasons could be; He simply didn’t draw the top half, or the sketch was split in half, making another solo piece from the two angels depicted above.

The existence of Franceschini’s “pastoral scene” and the accompanying sketch helps solidify the belief that  “Christ giving Communion to the Apostles”, is of the same nature. A composition sketch by Franceschini. His method allows for the comparison of his sketches, as well as confirmation of his methods as an artist.