The Council of Nicaea: PD.37-2001

Titles

The Council of Nicaea
The Council of Nicaea

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Nebbia, Cesare

Entities

• Drawing

Categories

• Drawing

Notes

History note: R.W.P. de Vries; Stichting Collectie P. En de Boer; Christie's, 4 July 1995; Paul Prouté, from whom bought

Legal notes

From the Mark Fisch Fund.

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2001) by The American Friends of Cambridge University Fund

Dating

16th Century, Late
Production date: AD 1589

Note

The drawing is an early study for the fresco dateable 1588-89 in the Salone Sistino in the Vatican Library as Rhoda Eitel Porter has pointed out [see M.L. Madonna [ed.] 'Roma di Sisto V, exhibition catalogue, Rome 1993, p. 80, fig. 5.] The iconography was devised by Federico Rinaldi and under the direction of Nebbia and Giovanni Guerra [c. 1540-1618], a whole team of artists worked on the frescoes. According to Baglione the fresco of the Council of Nicaea was painted by Hendrick van de Broeck, known as Arrigo Fiammingo [Malines c. 1523-1601 Rome]. Baglione adds that the drawings and cartoons for these decorations were provided by Nebbia himself [G. Baglione, 'Le Vite de' Pittori', Rome, 1642, p. 117.] Other drawings for the decoration of the Salone Sistino are in the National Museum, Stockholm. The council of Necaea took place in 325 C.E. It was convoked by the Emperer Constantine who hoped that a general Council of the Church would solve the problem created in the Eastern Church by Arianism - a heresy that affirmed that Christ is not divine but a created being. Pope Sylvester I did not attend but was represented by legates. It also attempted to establish a uniform date for Easter but failed. It was the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church.

School or Style

Italian